Commissioners approve rezone of 11 acres on Stateline Road to Business B-1

Dearborn County commissioners voted June 17 to approve a zone-map amendment for approximately 11 acres at 23833 Stateline Road, rezoning a portion of two parcels to Business B-1 to allow office use in front while retaining agricultural storage in the back.

Nicole Daley, director of planning and zoning, explained that the Planning Commission held a May 27 public hearing and forwarded a favorable recommendation (8 in favor, 1 abstention). Daley said the 11 acres come from portions of two lots and were requested to continue an existing B-1 zoning pattern along the road. She said the property owner stores agricultural equipment in the rear of the barn and intends to move an office operation to the front portion so employees are closer to home.

Daley explained that some uses sometimes rumored (wedding venue, event center) would require an additional conditional-use process before the board of zoning appeals; a straight B-1 rezone does not automatically permit large assembly uses without further approvals. “A wedding venue or event center is one of the rumors that was also created. In this instance, with the B-1, it would actually be that type of use would be a conditional use process,” Daley said.

A commissioner moved to approve the rezone of 11 acres at 23833 Stateline Road to Business B-1; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. The clerk referenced ordinance numbering during the meeting (there was some confusion among staff about the ordinance number), and the motion carried.

The change joins the B-1 zoning to the adjoining property and preserves the owner's ability to keep agricultural storage in the back while allowing office use in the front. Staff noted that any future commercial uses requiring additional parking or other permits would require further permitting steps.