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Board approves 36-month conditional use for home-based machining shop, allows sign subject to setbacks
Summary
The Decatur County Board approved a 36-month conditional use for Jesse Fenton to operate a fabricating and machining business at 2625 S. State Road 3 and separately approved one sign subject to county sign rules and any state right-of-way limits.
The Decatur County Board of Zoning Appeals voted April 1 to allow a home-based fabricating and machining business to operate from 2625 South State Road 3 under a 36-month conditional-use authorization. The board also approved one sign for the business, subject to local sign ordinance requirements and state right-of-way setbacks.
The petition, BZA 2026-3, was introduced by the chair as an application from Jesse Fenton to operate a fabricating and machining business under Decatur County ordinance section 9-35. Fenton told the board he makes small machine parts and intends to operate primarily by mail order, with parcel carrier deliveries rather than regular semi-truck traffic: “Usually, things more than 12 by 12,” he said when describing the parts produced.
Board members and neighbors asked about driveway access, visibility on State Road 3 and the frequency of large deliveries. One neighbor raised concerns about property values and the residential character of the area; staff clarified that the request was for a time-limited conditional use rather than a rezoning. Staff also reviewed sign rules and noted that signs must meet a 30-foot setback from the right-of-way and that the county may not be able to authorize placement inside a state right-of-way.
To address neighbors’ concerns, the board tied approval of the conditional use to a 36-month review period; staff said that at the end of that time staff would notify surrounding property owners and would return the matter to the board if complaints were filed. The chair summarized the board’s approach: “We generally tie a time period to them,” he said.
A board member moved to approve the conditional use for a 36-month period and the motion carried. The board then took a separate vote to allow a single sign, conditioned on compliance with county sign standards and any applicable state roadway restrictions; the board voted in favor and instructed the petitioner to work with county permitting staff on sign placement details.
The petitioner was told to meet with the county office to complete required permitting and to request a variance if he later seeks any sign setback exceptions. The conditional use and sign approvals are effective immediately; the board will notify neighbors before any 36-month renewal consideration.
