A tale of two zoning districts, one limiting, one allowing
Staff writer
Special zoning districts seem to be a new craze, and the Marion’s planning and zoning commission has differing opinions on two that are proposed or will be proposed.
Meeting Tuesday night, the commission stood by its earlier opposition to a zoning change that would restrict competitors from opening another hospital in the city.
Members unanimously voted to re-send the proposal back to the city council as-is.
It will now need a simple 3-2 vote from the council to pass it despite the commission’s objections.
“I still think it should outline a hospital district, and it doesn’t even do that,” commission chairman Darvin Markley said. “It doesn’t even mention that it’s a whole town. But I don’t even agree with that when we’re supposed to be looking at districts and establishing where something goes.”
Markley said other problems with the proposed ordinance would be whether businesses such as S and S MedSpa could have opened under these regulations.
“They did make that argument,” commissioner Bruce Skiles said.
On the other side of the zoning, the commission was in favor of drafting an ordinance allowing a district “intended to provide a rural, limited commercial, and residential lifestyle where adequate open space by which to preserve that character even after the area becomes fully developed,” a draft of the ordinance states.
“The district is also intended to allow for limited commercial use of animals and rural use provided it does not create a nuisance,” the draft continues.
The ordinance would establish a district for land that abuts city boundaries. A minimum of 10 acres would be the required to use the provisions, which would include potential expansion within the district and land next to the district of up to two acres.
Much of the conversation Tuesday was dominated by how many animals to allow per acre.
Markley proposed looking at the acreage and then talking to local veterinarians to get a recommendation on the number of animals to allow.
Commissioner Carol Laue said she thought there are standards already out there.
“I don’t think it should be subjective per the opinion of a [veterinarian],” she said. “I think it should be a standard. They’re probably somewhere.”
A draft of the proposal and letters to property owners in areas where the commission thinks the district might go, will be finalized and sent by Monday.
The commission will then conduct a public hearing about the proposal Sept. 1.
Earlier editions incorrectly gave the impression that S and S MedSpa would have to close if the zoning change were enacted.