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Planning & Zoning delays ADU ordinance; council hears county EDA child-care support and tourism initiative
Summary
Planning/Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit reported the draft Auxiliary Dwelling Unit ordinance raised enforcement concerns and the board postponed action. CEDA representative Jayme Longmire said Fillmore County EDA was accepted into the Rural Child Care Innovation Program and will receive about $46,000 in support; a county tourism initiative called Explore More in Fillmore County was also announced for spring 2026.
Planning and zoning topics and regional economic-development updates were a substantive part of the Rushford Village meeting on Nov. 18.
Jon Pettit, Planning and Zoning Administrator, told the council the draft Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance as presented raised multiple concerns among board members, chiefly over enforceability of provisions such as appliance removal when an ADU is not occupied by a blood relative. Pettit said Planning & Zoning will continue to review whether ADU guidance can be handled case-by-case or requires an ordinance; the board postponed a decision and will revisit the issue at future meetings.
Pettit further reported that Planning & Zoning discussed a potential 'fix-up' fund that would use revolving flood loan funds to support businesses in a commercial district. The board expressed reluctance because Rushford Village has few businesses that would qualify and because the proposed structure in the draft reads like a grant rather than a loan, which would not circulate funds back into the program.
CEDA representative Jayme Longmire presented the regular monthly report, noting the Fillmore County EDA was accepted into the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) and First Children’s Finance will provide roughly $46,000 in support and services over two years. Longmire said a 20-person core team from around the county will meet monthly to develop child-care initiatives and that updates will begin in January. She also said the county plans to launch a tourism initiative called Explore More in Fillmore County in spring 2026.
Pettit additionally reported a proposed concrete business plans to occupy the former Farmer’s Winn Coop property next to the Consolidated Energy gas plant on Highway 16; the applicant will seek county septic approval and a state well permit before work begins.
The council took no formal action on the ADU ordinance or the revolving-fund concept at this meeting; Planning & Zoning will continue discussions and refine proposals.
