Brookville councilmember JD Fowler explains his reason for making the motion to table an ordinance establishing a new large lot residential district for the city.
Terry Baver | The Register-Herald
BROOKVILLE — Council voted to table an ordinance that would establish a new large lot residential district for the city.
The ordinance was tabled until the city completes its comprehensive land use plan update that is currently underway.
Voting to table the ordinance were mayor Chuck Letner, vice mayor James Zimmerlin and councilmembers JD Fowler, Kim Wilder, Stephan Crane and Dennis Piper.
Councilmember Curt Schreier voted against tabling the ordinance.
Fowler, who stated he supports establishing larger residential lots, made the motion to table the ordinance until the land use plan is completed and implemented.
“One-and-a-half acres inside the city is a little excessive, but I’m certainly in favor of a half-acre and maybe looking at an acre plus, but it’s prudent to just wait for whatever happens with the land use plan and get guidance from that,” Fowler said.
Planning commission approved a draft of the proposed large lot residential district for the city after reviewing the contents of the draft at its Aug. 15 meeting.
Law director Rod Stephan stated at the planning commission meeting “the district is entitled R-1 Rural Residential District.”
Stephan also noted the district “is based on the proposal presented by planning commission member Tony Ezerski at the July 2024 planning commission meeting.”
The proposed text states the purpose of the Rural Residential District is “to control development in rural areas by requiring large lots for single-family residential development in this district.”
Single-family dwellings are a permitted use under the Rural Residential District.
Other permitted uses include “accessory buildings and uses incidental to the principal use which do not include any activity conducted as a business. Regulations governing accessory facilities and uses are specified in Chapter 1157.”
The minimum lot area is 4,340 square feet (1.5 acres) while the minimum lot frontage is 150 feet.
The minimum front yard and rear yard depth is 50 feet while the minimum side yard depth is 20 feet on each side.
The structural requirements are as follows:
• maximum building height – 35 feet
• minimum floor area – 2,000 square feet
The following special uses – subject subject to review and regulation in accordance with Chapter 1163 – include:
• governmentally owned and/or operated parks and recreational facilities.
• private non-commercial recreational areas and facilities of an open space nature, such as golf courses, tennis courts, country clubs, etc.
• churches and other buildings for the purpose of religious worship
• libraries
• public and private schools offering courses in general education
• cemeteries
• home occupations
• private earth stations
• shared housing (maximum of five residents)
• family care homes
• foster care facilities (maximum of five residents)
In a related matter, city manager Jack Kuntz informed council city staff received six responses to the city’s request for proposals for the city’s land use plan update.
“We are happy with the responses. It exceeded what we were expecting,” Kuntz said.
“The steering committee has met and we are in the process of scheduling interviews with four of those companies,” Kuntz added.
Kuntz indicated after interviewing the companies he hopes to have a recommendation for council at either the Sept. 17 or Oct. 1 council meeting.
“The project is moving forward and we’re excited to get it going,” Kuntz said.
Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].
