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Barry County sends Compassion Homes zoning recommendation back to Planning Commission, approves up to $200,000 for driveway relocation
Summary
The Barry County Board of Commissioners moved to return a Planning Commission recommendation permitting Compassion Homes in RR and A zones for further revision and approved up to $200,000 to relocate a driveway at county property west of Harvest Pointe, stipulating sale proceeds of the current COA property must reimburse the county.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 voted unanimously to send the Planning Commission’s recommendation to allow Compassion Homes as a permitted use in RR and A zoning districts back to the Planning Commission for revision and to approve up to $200,000 to support relocating a driveway at county property west of Harvest Pointe.
Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Keesler presented the Planning Commission recommendation and announced forthcoming resignations from the Zoning Board of Appeals. By motion (moved by Commissioner Catherine Getty, seconded by Marsha Bassett) the board returned the Compassion Homes recommendation to the Planning Commission with the changes identified at the meeting; the voice vote was recorded as all aye.
County Administrator Eric Zuzga asked the board to approve up to $200,000 to change driveway locations to allow for future development at the county-owned parcel west of Harvest Pointe. The board approved the funding motion (moved by Vice-Chair David Hatfield, seconded by Getty) with a stipulation that any proceeds from the sale of the current COA property be used to reimburse the county; the vote was 8-0.
During limited public comment, Gary White of Castleton Township asked commissioners to contact state representatives regarding an MDOT and COA driveway issue and suggested the county be reimbursed from COA sale proceeds; Courtney Ziny, the COA executive director, thanked county administration for continued oversight of the COA project and described the property’s future as unknown. Rick Moore of Irving Township also spoke about Compassion Homes during public comment.
The Planning Commission will receive the board’s direction and is expected to revisit its recommendation to clarify the permitting language and any conditions before the county implements zoning changes. The driveway funding approval includes a reimbursement condition tied to any eventual sale of the COA property; the board did not set a timeline for the sale or development.
