Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Code Revision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission begins cleanup of zoning and subdivision rules, schedules public hearing on residential changes
Summary
Batesville commissioners reviewed proposed revisions to R2 residential definitions and subdivision regulations, including how duplexes/triplexes are counted, density calculations, and increased setbacks for buildings above two stories; staff will circulate revised language and a public hearing was scheduled.
The Batesville Planning Commission took initial steps to revise residential, commercial and subdivision rules, focusing first on clarifying the R2 residential classification and related density and setback language.
A lead commissioner said the current code is confusing: it treats "multifamily" as three units or more, which excludes duplexes from the multifamily category, and ties lot size and unit counts in a way that made calculating minimum lot requirements unclear in practice. Commissioners discussed alternatives including defining multifamily to include duplexes, using lot size to determine allowable units, adopting a dwelling‑units‑per‑acre or floor‑area approach, and applying stepped setbacks for buildings above two stories.
The commission asked staff to rewrite the R2 text to make definitions and density calculations simpler and clearer, and the lead commissioner said he would prepare language for a public hearing. Commissioners also reviewed parallel edits to commercial and industrial tables intended to simplify presentation; they flagged a duplicated setback provision that appears both in the subdivision design standards and in the zoning code and asked staff to reconcile the duplication.
The commission agreed to hold a public hearing on the residential revisions at the next meeting to allow public comment and further refinement of the draft language. Commissioners discussed delegating minor lot splits to staff to reduce bureaucracy while preserving oversight for larger or ambiguous cases.
The chair asked staff to provide revised language and clarifying tables ahead of the public hearing so commissioners and the council can review the proposed changes before formal adoption.
