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Commission considers removing parks‑and‑recreation as permitted zone for cell towers after Cayuga proposal
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Summary
Commissioners debated excluding the county parks‑and‑recreation (PR) zoning district from locations eligible for telecommunications facilities after a reported Cayuga plan to locate a tower near a T‑ball field; members agreed to place the topic on the April agenda for further review.
During new business on March 12, the Vermillion County Area Plan Commission discussed removing the parks‑and‑recreation (PR) zoning district from the list of zones where telecommunication facilities are permitted, citing a reported proposal in Cayuga to site a tower near the T‑ball park.
One commissioner urged removing PR from the eligible zones, saying parks should be preserved as green space and not host towers. Another member suggested compromise language: permit towers only on existing structures (for example, water towers) or allow them in parks by special exception so the BZA can impose setbacks and conditions. A commissioner noted the county’s current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) limits tower height to 100 feet, a standard that has been routinely exceeded through variances in previous cases.
No formal vote was taken. The commission agreed to add the item to the April agenda for fuller review and possible draft language to limit telecommunications in park zoning or require additional conditions when parks are considered.
