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Williams County planning panel grants temporary permit for truck parking on Mount property
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission denied a full commercial conversion but approved a conditional use permit through July 1 allowing Mason Mount to park commercial trucks and trailers on his 39-acre rural residential parcel while he seeks a permanent yard, after township concerns and a neighbor complaint prompted a compromise.
The Williams County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny a permanent commercial use but approved a temporary conditional use permit through July 1 to allow Mason Mount to park commercial trucks and trailers on a 39.09-acre rural residential parcel in Mont Township.
Michelle (county planning staff) told the commission the applicant sought permission to store “no more than 10 trailers, 2 semis, and 5 pickups” overnight and that Mont Township had recommended denial in the proposal’s present form while suggesting a 6–9 month accommodation. Mason Mount told the commission he had called the planning office before parking the vehicles and said he was not building a shop: “I was utilizing one of the buildings out there for oil changes and tire rotation... basically what we’ve been using it for is just parking.”
Commissioners raised concerns about spot zoning and long-term precedent for commercial uses in a primarily agricultural area. One commissioner said the county’s historic approach was to keep commercial and industrial uses where they already exist and not to set a rural spot-zoning precedent. Another commissioner moved to deny the request while giving Mount time to secure an alternative yard; a separate motion then created a limited conditional use permit that will expire July 1 unless the applicant returns for an extension.
The commission’s action distinguishes between discussion and formal direction: the denial with a time-limited allowance directs the applicant to find a different permanent site, while the temporary CUP provides interim relief. Staff noted that if Mount needs more time he may return to the commission for an extension.
No formal conditions beyond the July 1 expiration were recorded in the hearing transcript. The commission’s decision on the temporary permit was made by roll-call vote and was recorded as carrying during the meeting; the item concluded with the commission instructing staff to document the CUP with the stated expiration.
The Planning and Zoning Commission’s formal decision will appear in the minutes and any follow-up request for extension will require a subsequent public hearing before the commission.
