Beth Ann, a resident of Yellow Bank Road, said that she sees other properties that have violations while she is driving a school bus. Her viewpoint is do not let newcomers file complaints.
Wide Range of Complaints
Nicole Day voiced a wide range of complaints that no one in the county dealt with meth labs, drug users, dogs that bite, nor “an infestation of rats” next door to her home. The APC members encouraged her to contact the proper county departments.
Carla Hacker, landowner on Reservoir Road, said, “We are being harassed about the sewer line” that is proposed for her area. She said that a complaint about sewage was filed with the state by someone who did not live in the area.
Citizens Input Committee Wrote the Zoning Code
APC Board Member Bob Braun spoke about how the county’s zoning code was rewritten in 2008 - 2010 by residents, who met every week and were called the Citizens Input Committee (CIC). The zoning code is titled “Franklin County Citizens Zoning and Subdivision Control Code” and the first chapter is the “Citizens’ Guide to Zoning.” Mr. May was told that if he wanted to repeal zoning regulations, the process would take several years.
“Can you live with your neighbor?
Zoning has gray areas; sometimes there are health issues, said Mr. Kramer. The questions he asks are, “Can you live with your neighbor?” How does the county draw the line between one car stripped down in a garage and multiple cars stripped down outside every day? How many unlicensed cars can sit in the yard. Should the cars be 50 feet or 5 feet from the property line? Where do your rights begin and your neighbor’s rights end? “It is society’s right to fight common enemies - fire, water, vermin,” said Mr. Kramer. “People have to live together…someone has to draw the lines.”
Avoid EPA Violations
APC Board Member Christine Rains sympathized with those cited with violations. However, she said that times have changed since her childhood when her family scrapped parts. She noted that violations can run afoul of federal rules overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She said that the county is trying to avoid problems that would attract intervention by the EPA and result in large fines to property owners. She stated that the EPA closed a local junkyard over violations.
“Going the wrong way with more junk.”
APC Board Member Dennis Brown said the county must have zoning rules. In the 70 years that he lived here, he observed that the county was clean and now is “going the wrong way with more junk.”
Good News
APC Director Kaitlin Sterwerf reported that four properties have been cleaned up and are now in compliance. Three more property owners are making progress. The APC took no further action on one case.
The APC voted to send a letter to the Sturwolds on East Road by St. Peters Church. More junk is accumulating per the complainant. APC Board Member Daryl Kramer asked for more information, because this site “may turn into a major junk yard,” which is not licensed for this property.
There was no progress regarding “squatters” living in a “makeshift house” on the property of a deceased person. The APC voted to send a letter to the mortgage company.
Other Comments
Geoff Wesley, the new APC attorney, weighed in that Indiana counties have adopted zoning codes for a reason, because “a zoning code is a very important tool to a community.”
Local resident Ed Derickson previously volunteered with the Citizens Input Committee and formerly served on the APC. He remembered that the CIC agreed to setting strict rules for junkyards. He spoke in favor of speeding up the violation process.
Streamlined Office Policy
After all the debate, the APC voted unanimously to send a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners to remove the old violation process from the zoning code. It would be replaced it with a streamlined office policy. There would be no change to fines for violations.
Other Actions
The APC re-elected officers President Bob Braun and Vice-president Christine Rains. They selected APC member Daryl Kramer to also serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Dennis Brown, from the town of Cedar Grove, joined the APC as the representative for the small towns in the county. Kaitlin Sterwerf was reappointed as the executive director of the Planning Commission and Jeff Wesley as the board’s attorney.
Board Members Rob Seig and Patrick Bedel were absent.
Reported by Sara Duffy
|