Brown County APC sends negative recommendation on rezoning for 1335 Greasy Creek Road

The Brown County Area Plan Commission on Feb. 24 voted to send a negative recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on rezoning petition 26-RZ-01, which sought to reclassify 1335 Greasy Creek Road in Washington Township from Primary Residential (R1) to General Business (GB).

Randy Jones, an APC member, moved to forward a negative recommendation and Kara Hammes seconded. The roll-call vote recorded Carol Bowden (President)—yes; Tim Allen—yes; Jane Gore—no; Randy Jones—yes; Kara Hammes—yes, resulting in a 4–1 vote to oppose the rezoning. The motion instructs the commission’s formal stance to the Board of Commissioners; it is not itself a zoning determination.

The petition drew both supporters and opponents in public comment. Petitioner Jesse Clarke told the commission his electrical-contractor business operates primarily off-site, that there is "plenty of field and forest separating" the site from residences and "only one home within 600 feet," and that his operation would "have a positive impact on the County economically." Clarke said most equipment is stored inside and that he would limit signage and park service vehicles at the rear.

Opponents, including counsel Dan Cyr representing neighbor Debbie Rogers, argued the approval would amount to "spot zoning" and said General Business designation "opens the property to many uses for the future." Rogers said her family owned the adjacent parcel for decades and cited long-standing complaints, and multiple neighbors referenced a petition opposing rezoning containing dozens of signatures (the record references 40+ and a separate statement of 48 signatures).

Commission discussion focused on two central tensions: local economic support and historical use asserted by the petitioner and supporters, versus procedural and neighborhood-protection concerns raised by opponents. Kara Hammes said she understood the petitioner’s difficulty finding business parcels but said she was "not a fan of spot zoning." Tim Allen requested the official zoning map and learned a nearby cell tower had been approved via a Special Exception; Director Kayla Robertson confirmed that Special Exception approvals are distinct from rezoning. Several commissioners noted the petitioner had moved operations onto the property before rezoning approval, and some members said that weighed against a positive recommendation.

The commission’s action is a recommendation only; the Board of Commissioners will consider the petition next and may accept, reject, or modify the commission’s recommendation. The APC vote and public record (testimony, petitions, and staff report) will accompany the docket to that hearing.