Huntington Township planning commission authorizes county review of zoning rules; Jay Weaver rezoning discussion tabled

Huntington Township Planning Commission members voted to authorize county planning staff to review the township zoning ordinance and related codes, and they tabled a separate rezoning request from landowner Jay Weaver.

The commission voted by voice to direct county staff to review the zoning ordinance “for completeness and up to date relevance,” specifically including four topics the commission identified earlier: elevator/platform lifts, so-called “echo” or accessory housing, short‑term rental (Airbnb) rules, and rules for wedding/event venues. The motion was made by Paul and approved by voice vote. At the same meeting the commission voted to table discussion of Jay Weaver’s request to rezone 180 South Ridge Road; Weaver was not present.

Why it matters: the county review will produce suggested ordinance language and identify items that are missing or out of date, which could change how recreational uses, short‑term rentals and accessory housing are regulated in Huntington Township.

What the commission said and decided - Paul moved that county staff review the zoning ordinance; a member seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The motion called out the four topics the commission had identified previously for review. - The commission voted to table the Jay Weaver rezoning discussion after commissioners said Weaver was not present to answer questions.

Background on Jay Weaver’s request According to discussion during the meeting, Weaver previously applied to rezone 180 South Ridge Road. The earlier rezoning request was described as having two parts: permission to build four ball fields and rezoning the remainder of the farm to permit a heavy‑equipment auction operation. The board of supervisors previously denied the rezoning request. Commissioners told the planning commission they remain open to the idea of community athletic fields but that a commercial enterprise intended to recover construction costs is treated as a commercial use and would require rezoning.

Commission discussion included a draft definition the solicitor and staff proposed for “outdoor sports/recreational fields,” which would permit outdoor sports (football, soccer, baseball) and accessory buildings but would limit coverage of buildings and structures to no more than 5 percent of the land area of the fields (parking excluded from that coverage calculation). Commissioners said that language could allow modest accessory structures such as storage sheds or concession stands while constraining building footprint.

Several commissioners emphasized that the central issue in the Weaver case is whether the planned use would be a commercial enterprise (with fees or other revenue) or a purely recreational, noncommercial use. Commissioners repeatedly noted supervisors had denied Weaver’s prior rezoning application; Weaver’s intent to recover construction costs was discussed as the element that made the proposal commercial in the supervisors’ view.

Next steps County planning staff will review the zoning ordinance and return recommended updates or suggested language for the commission’s review. Commissioners said the county draft could be refined locally and then, if the commission chooses, forwarded to the board of supervisors for any necessary changes to township zoning.

Votes at the meeting - Approval of minutes (December): motion by Jeff, second by Tom; voice vote, approved. - Motion to table Jay Weaver rezoning discussion: motion made and seconded; voice vote, approved. - Motion to authorize county review of zoning ordinance (including the four items identified): motion by Paul, seconded; voice vote, approved.

Proper names referenced in the discussion include Huntington Township; Garvin Homes and BLG Construction (discussed in the zoning officer report); and county planning staff member Sherry (the county planning staff lead) who the commission said had been assisting with background research.

Ending: The commission directed county staff to prepare a draft review and suggested ordinance language; commissioners said they expect to review those drafts before any formal rezoning hearings or ordinance changes are sent to the board of supervisors.