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Morgan Township zoning commission begins rewrite of agriculture district, plans public survey
Summary
The Morgan Township Zoning Commission held a first reading of proposed changes to Chapter 7 (agriculture), discussed public outreach using an online survey and planned to send the draft to the Butler County Planning Commission after revisions.
Morgan Township Zoning Commission on June 4 conducted a first reading of proposed text amendments to Chapter 7 (agriculture) and agreed to use a public SurveyMonkey questionnaire before forwarding the draft to the Butler County Planning Commission.
Commission members said the rewrite is a substantial change to how the township will classify and regulate agricultural parcels and asked staff to prepare a public survey and announce the item for the next meeting so residents can attend. "Before we even send it off to the Butler County Planning Commission, I would like for us to do a SurveyMonkey," one commission member said during the discussion.
The commission discussed how the new text will affect lot-splitting and minimum lot sizes. Members used a 12-acre example to illustrate how the new rules would affect parcel division: under the proposed approach splitting a 12-acre parcel into three 3-acre lots would trigger a different classification and additional restrictions, while selling two 6-acre lots would remain an option. Commissioners also said the rewrite aims to better reflect how land is actually being used and to encourage conservation-minded patterns of development.
Commissioners agreed the public survey should explain that the rewrite would not prevent building on existing smaller lots and should include language clarifying intent and examples so residents understand practical effects. The commission also discussed standard outreach channels; members said they will post notice to the Morgan Township Facebook page, Nextdoor and the township YouTube channel and consider a sign with a phone number for those who cannot attend meetings.
The commission said it will complete edits after the first reading, publish the survey and place the item on the agenda for the next meeting; after that meeting the commission intends to take an approval vote to transmit the recommendation to the Butler County Planning Commission.
The commission emphasized this is still a first reading and that additional revisions could be made before transmission to county staff.
