Plan commission to advertise draft PUD; staff updates DNR review of flood‑control changes and seeks ordinance clarity on AFO expansions

The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission agreed to advertise a draft plan unit development (PUD) ordinance for public hearing next month and received brief updates on two other ongoing ordinance matters: flood‑control amendments and AFO (animal feeding operation) rules.

Staff circulated a one‑page PUD summary and asked whether commissioners were ready to advertise the draft. Commissioners said the PUD is a useful tool to encourage growth at town edges and directed staff to run the full amendment through the county's public‑notice process. "We advertise both the newspapers," staff said, and the commission will publish the complete amendment in the legal advertisement and post it on the county website prior to the hearing.

On flood control, staff (Shannon) reminded the commission that state and federal (DNR/FEMA) minimum standards dictate certain ordinance language. Shannon said staff has forwarded the revisions to the Department of Natural Resources for review; the commission will consider the ordinance after DNR comments are returned.

Commissioners also discussed how the recently adopted AFO ordinance applies when an existing dairy proposes building changes tied to a transition to robotic milking but does not add animals. Staff and multiple commissioners said the intent of the AFO trigger was to capture expansions that increase animal numbers or facility use. Several members said remodeling or replacing equipment without adding critters reads more like a building permit than an AFO application, but they asked staff to monitor the case and consider whether a targeted amendment or guidance is needed to clarify the ordinance's practical application.

Staff said it will bring any recommended wording changes or interpretations back to the commission for formal consideration.