Public expresses opinions about proposed zoning changes
Staff reporter
There was a common theme throughout a public hearing Thursday evening for changes to the county's zoning regulations.
County residents who voiced concerns about development restriction in rural areas used the term "common sense."
The public hearing and proposed changes were the result of Marion County Commission and Marion County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals coming to a consensus of necessary changes.
For more than a year the county commission had expressed concerns about restrictions to residential development in rural areas. Those members asked the planning commission to consider changes to zoning regulations that would allow more development.
However, the changes had to be within the guidelines of the county's comprehensive plan. If not, according to state statute, the county would have to make changes to the plan before implementing zoning changes.
Prior to hearing comments from those 20 people who attended the hearing, planning commission chairman Eileen Sieger read letters that had been received.
One of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations was to establish a growth area around the cities within the county to allow single family dwellings on three-acre parcels but only one dwelling per 40 acres.
Letters from the City of Hillsboro and the City of Marion indicated they did not support the growth area around their respective cities because it could restrict development. The City of Goessel said they were in favor of it.
Hillsboro city officials cited concerns of the growth area not supporting the city's comprehensive plan.
Other proposed changes to the regulations would allow lot splits of five-acre parcels but still require a net density on the parcel of one residence per 40 acres, allow single family dwellings on three acres when the property currently has or had a residential structure in the past, and require assessments for residential lot splits.
A $500 assessment would be collected for lots on gravel roads and $500 plus an additional $500 for each quarter mile of road to be graveled on dirt roads. That cost would not exceed $3,000.
The county commission would determine estimated costs for road improvements.
Sieger opened the floor for public comment. Speakers were asked to keep comments to the subject matter and there would not be any discussion.
Gary Grentz of rural Marion said 40 acres was not a farm.
"If a farmer wants to sell land, he should be able to," he said. Common sense needed to be used in making those decisions.
Grentz later asked why a person couldn't live in a camper trailer on his property while a house was being built?
Marion resident Rocky Hett echoed the same sentiments.
"If a farmer wants to sell his property, let him sell it," Hett said. "It used to be you could sell off an acre of land."
Brad Putter of Marion said the county's population has decreased during the years and sees abandoned homes that could be occupied.
"Give someone the ability to restore them," Putter said.
He continued that 40 acres is too much for someone who just wants a rural home, five acres is on the "verge" of being adequate, but wanted the commission to look at three acres.
Putter continued that he was all in favor of agriculture and undesirable agricultural land should be used for housing.
He also would like to see more than 16 single family dwellings be allowed on a section of ground.
Clifford Hett, rural Marion, commended the commission for allowing lot splits of five acres for housing development but added he still had to sell two acres more of desirable farm ground to meet the five-acre regulation.
Marion real estate agent Charles Kannady said he has had clients who want to buy land for home sites.
"Right now, people are paying 33 cents per acre in taxes for wasteland," Kannady said. With a home site on that same ground, the taxes increase to $98 per acre, he said.
Kannady continued that state statute requires a minimum of one acre of land for a home site.
"Anything more than that is a waste of agriculture land," he said, and maintaining several acres can be difficult.
"Two to three acres are manageable," Kannady said, referring to those who build or establish a rural home but don't farm. "The county would probably end up with less land taken out of production" if fewer acres were allowed.
He said "common sense" needed to be used and this wasn't a city-county issue.
"Forty acres per home site is outdated," Kannady said.
A letter from Alma David, rural Goessel, indicated housing development should be part of a city and "agricultural use of land must be the one and only priority."
Josh Wiser, also of rural Goessel, said he doesn't think "expanding cities' borders was the answer." He also requested more restrictions on mobile homes.
Public comments will be accepted until Thursday, and can be made by contacting David Brazil, county zoning administrator, at (620) 382-2550.
