Franklin County commissioners approve changes to agricultural zoning rules

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two amendments to the county zoning resolution after a public hearing on Oct. 16, 2017. The changes revise Article X — Agricultural Districts: adding "Personal Residential Storage" to the list of permitted uses and adjusting minimum yard requirements for front, side and rear setbacks.

Planning and Zoning Director Janet Petrunich had published the public notice and recommended the changes after the regional planning commission voted to forward the amendments to the county commission. At the meeting, Commissioner Dave Van Buskirk moved to approve both amendments; Commissioner Dale Schultz seconded. The clerk’s minutes record the motion passing on a 15–0 roll-call vote.

The revision to Section 3.1 adds subsection 3.1(12) to permit personal residential storage in agricultural districts. The revision to Section 3.4 standardizes minimum yard dimensions (front 40 feet, side 25 feet, rear 40 feet) and clarifies smaller minimums (10 feet) for parcels abutting lakes, rivers or bluffs. The Planning & Zoning staff report and the regional planning commission record are on file with the department for anyone seeking full text or maps.

Commissioners and Planning Commission members discussed technical questions about setbacks and septic/sewer exceptions during earlier Planning Commission review sessions in July and recommended several minor drafting clarifications before forwarding the items to the county commission.

The zoning amendments take effect as provided in the county’s zoning procedures; property owners and applicants were advised to consult Planning & Zoning for interpretation and permitting requirements.