Clark County panel does not recommend rezoning for Dear Dinah tiny-home transitional village

At its Aug. 13, 2026 public hearing the Clark County Rural Zoning Commission considered Rezoning Case Z-2026-08, a request from Dear Dinah Inc. to rezone 18.99 acres at 500 Quick Road in Bethel Township from A-1 (Agricultural) to PD-R (Planned Development–Residential) to allow an eight-unit tiny-home transitional community for women served by the ministry.

Joshua Reed, a Dear Dinah board member and co‑founder, described the ministry’s work in the Dayton area and the planned use of the property as longer-term transitional housing for women who had completed recovery. "They had been active in the Greater Dayton area for 6 years and had a house in Dayton to support women who were homeless or at risk of homeless, which was called the Victory House," Reed said while outlining on‑site agriculture, low-cost rent and a goal of keeping the project small and local.

Staff presented the PD‑R requirements, a history of earlier conditional use requests and comments from county departments: the Engineer required a site plan, stormwater management report and either Quick Road frontage or a recorded ingress/egress easement; the Health Department noted that well and septic must comply with local and state plumbing rules. The County Planning Commission recommended approval; Bethel Township trustees submitted a resolution opposing the rezoning.

Public comment included multiple speakers in favor—survivors, volunteers and local clergy who described recovery pathways and community support—and opponents who raised technical and policy concerns including septic capacity, wetlands protection, whether the tiny homes on wheels could be used as permanent residences, and the possibility of spot zoning in a rural/agricultural area.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about septic sizing, wetlands, safety measures and whether the units would be on foundations. County staff clarified that PD‑R approval would bind the proposed plan and that major changes would require a new rezoning process. Commissioner Bob Jurick stressed balance between individual and community rights, noting the need for broader support and services if the project moved forward.

A motion by Mr. Jurick, seconded by Ms. Stridsberg, to recommend approval of Rezoning Case Z‑2026‑08 failed. The board recorded no yes votes and four no votes (Mr. Jurick, Ms. Stridsberg, Mr. Leis and Mr. Shaffer); the motion was defeated. "Clark County’s zoning balanced personal rights with community rights, and that this was a perfect example of this," Jurick said before the vote.

Because the RZC did not recommend approval, the case record—including the Planning Commission recommendation for approval and staff conditions—will be forwarded to the Clark County Commissioners for a final decision. The commission adjourned at 11:56 a.m.