Board grants conditional use to country store with two conditions after neighbors raise safety and zoning concerns

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a conditional use allowing a retail operation at 7336 West County Road 300 South (the site known locally as Hillbilly Corner) with two explicit conditions: the owner must obtain a new or revised delivery access drive acceptable to the county highway department to keep large deliveries off the public road, and the conditional use will be reviewed on a shortened timeframe (two years) rather than the longer typical amortization period.

Applicant Matthew John said he intends to continue and expand the existing retail and deli operations, add more local farm products and operate a "farm stop" model that provides year-round market access for small producers. "The concept is called a farm stop," John said, describing similar operations he had seen in Bloomington and Michigan and saying he planned to live on site. He told the board he expected to keep much of the current operation while adding more locally sourced products and that he had experience in agricultural education and community outreach.

Several…