Zoning

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Permalink Reply by George Kakasuleff on March 26, 2010 at 1:09pm

Maintains organization like folders in a filing cabinent.

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Permalink Reply by Drew Cleveland on April 7, 2010 at 2:03pm

Pros - can have ag zones which provide some protections to farming practices and depending on how you set it up possibly limit housing development in ag zones. Creates a Planning and Zoning board made up normally of reps from towns in the county as well as reps from the rural areas. Normally have a Co. Counicl rep and a County Commissioner Rep too. The board makes changes to the county comprehensive plan and ordinance changes which have to be approved by the Commissioners. Also creates a BZA (board of zoning appeals) normally 3 people which act as a final ruling body to overturn decisions by the Planning Board. Another pro is planning and zoning helps define how you want your county to look on into the future and helps plan for growth areas, infrastructure, etc.

Cons - Creates more beauracracy and another layer of hoops to jump through when doing almost anything - building a new building, putting up a sign for the farm, etc. With P&Z some rights of property owners will be limited due to the zoning restrictions - example ordinance passed to outlaw any junk piles on properties or possibly zone out trailer homes.

I am the RM up around Muncie and cover 6 counties and all have zoning. Grew up in Washington Co. where we didn't. In Wash. Co. we had a Land Company come in and carve up a bunch of farms to sell for little parcels and allowed a bunch of trailer homes to come in not to mention the more people you have moving to the country the more problems you likely will have with complaints about hauling manure, spraying chemicals, etc. (normal ag operations) Personally I can see the good and bad to both. In the end I think the biggest benefit is zoning helps you plan how you want your county to remain or to how you want it to grow - planning has to be a part of zoning, so be sure you stress that if you attend any meetings or discuss it with anyone else. A plan for your county can be a really good thing as long as agriculture is properly represented and protected.

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