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Residents ask Planning Commission to revisit 10-acre land-division rule for agricultural parcels
Summary
Several Riley Township residents urged the commission to amend Section 3.17(C).7 of the zoning ordinance so homeowners can split a house and barns from farmland without the current 10-acre minimum; one speaker said his variance request was denied because his home was built in 2015.
During the public-comment portion of the April 9 meeting, Russell Snitgen of Riley Township asked the Planning Commission to review Section 3.17(C).7 of the zoning ordinance (Agricultural Standards). He told commissioners he and his son farm two 40-acre parcels and want the ability to split the home and barns from the remaining farmland without removing a 10-acre block of tillable land.
Snitgen said he previously sought a variance through the Zoning Board of Appeals but was denied because his home had been built in 2015. His son, Joel Snitgen, told the commission that removing ten acres would reduce tillable acreage and could create future ownership complications when the house is sold. Chair Margaret Sayles said the request would be placed on a future agenda, noting multiple residents had raised similar concerns about the A-2 ten-acre minimum.
Commissioners did not take immediate action; staff later said the ten-acre land-division issue will be placed on a future agenda for possible ordinance amendment and additional discussion with staff and consultants.
