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Warren County approves Ordinance 266 to add contractor‑yard and sandblasting definitions to zoning code
Summary
After a public hearing and Planning Commission recommendation, county commissioners approved Ordinance 266, which adds definitions and special‑exception rules for contractor yards, oil‑field service yards and industrial commercial sandblasting and painting to the 2008 Warren County zoning ordinance.
Warren County commissioners on Tuesday voted to adopt Ordinance 266, amending the county's 2008 zoning ordinance to add definitions and special‑exception provisions for contractor yards, oil‑field service yards and "industrial commercial sandblasting and painting." The change, recommended by the Planning Commission following meetings in December and January, passed by voice vote.
Speaker 3, who presented the proposal at the public hearing, said the amendment adds three definitions and creates Articles 401.52 (industrial commercial sandblasting and painting) and 401.53 (contractor yard, oil field services yard). "This was created at the request of a property owner who has an existing business that is typically off‑site. He wants to expand his capabilities and his offerings by being able to do that on his property," Speaker 3 said, describing the practical impetus for the text change.
Under the approved language, the new uses will be permitted by special exception in the ACR (agricultural/conservation/ rural), B (business) and Industrial districts. Planning staff said they used an existing sawmill article as a template and adopted similar setback, screening, sound and time‑of‑operation requirements intended "to protect the adjacent property owners." The special‑exception path requires a public hearing before the zoning hearing board to confirm compliance with established criteria.
Speakers noted the ordinance is drafted to apply broadly and is not limited to the two property owners who initiated the inquiries. The presenter said the change affects the 14 municipalities that fall under the Warren County Zoning Ordinance; the county's 11 unzoned municipalities and boroughs such as the city of Warren and Youngsville Borough are not affected.
The board moved to approve Ordinance 266 after the hearing. Speaker 4 made the motion and Speaker 7 seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. The ordinance text and the Planning Commission's recommendation will be part of the county record for implementation and any future special‑exception hearings.
What happens next: property owners seeking to use the new classifications will apply for special exceptions to the zoning hearing board, where site‑specific setbacks, screening and operational conditions will be reviewed.
