Planners Continue Approval Of Zoning Ordinance Amendments

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer-

To give the Area Plan Commission and concerned businessmen more time to review the proposed Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance amendments, the commission continued the approval of the amendments to its July 11 meeting.

A concern for Dan Colcutt, who has provided billboard advertising services in the county for the last 22 years, is the amendments regarding signs.

Under the proposed amendments, there are more restrictions on where a sign can be placed.

Signs in an agricultural district can't exceed 24 square feet in size; no portion of the sign can extend or protrude into the right of way, driving easement or access; no pole-mounted freestanding sign can be on the same side of the road closer than 2,000 feet from another sign established by the ordinance; the sign can't be closer than 250 feet to a grade road intersection; and the sign and structure may not be taller than 30 feet from the grade.

For signs in commercial districts, the only changes include: no pole-mounted, freestanding sign can be closer than 300 feet from another pole-mounted, freestanding sign; the sign and structure can't be taller than 30 feet; and a sign can't be closer than 100 feet to a road grade intersection.

A pole-mounted, freestanding sign in any industrial I, II or III district can't be closer than 500 feet to another similar pole.

In environmental, public use, residential or agricultural II districts, no signs are permitted.

All signs require approved sign permits, with three exceptions: a land owner in any district may erect a sign no larger than 2 square feet that states the name, address, professional activity or other message of the occupant of the premises on which the sign is located; a temporary real estate, construction or other sign not exceeding 9 square feet relating to the development or sale of land on the property being developed; or a temporary political sign.

Temporary political signs are permitted in any district and may be posted four months prior to the related election but must be removed within three days after the election. The signs may not be posted in a road or easement right of way and must comply with the rest of the ordinance.

Prior to the placement of a sign, a temporary sign permit must be obtained through the Plan Commission.

All signs must be erected or placed within six months of receiving a granted sign permit.

Sign structures stacked or mounted back-to-back are considered one sign and all requirements must be met.

Other issues addressed in the zoning ordinance amendments include residential fences, appeals from the hearing officer, restrictive farm covenants, subdivision entrance signs, flood control ordinances, floodways and non-conforming uses.

"This addresses a wide variety of things," Matt Sandy, Area Plan Commission assistant planner, told the commission Wednesday.

"It has been advertised so we can take these to the commissioners whenever the Plan Commission feels they're ready," he said.

The commission will vote on the amendments in July. If they approve the amendments in full or partially, the amendments will then go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners for final approval. [[In-content Ad]]

To give the Area Plan Commission and concerned businessmen more time to review the proposed Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance amendments, the commission continued the approval of the amendments to its July 11 meeting.

A concern for Dan Colcutt, who has provided billboard advertising services in the county for the last 22 years, is the amendments regarding signs.

Under the proposed amendments, there are more restrictions on where a sign can be placed.

Signs in an agricultural district can't exceed 24 square feet in size; no portion of the sign can extend or protrude into the right of way, driving easement or access; no pole-mounted freestanding sign can be on the same side of the road closer than 2,000 feet from another sign established by the ordinance; the sign can't be closer than 250 feet to a grade road intersection; and the sign and structure may not be taller than 30 feet from the grade.

For signs in commercial districts, the only changes include: no pole-mounted, freestanding sign can be closer than 300 feet from another pole-mounted, freestanding sign; the sign and structure can't be taller than 30 feet; and a sign can't be closer than 100 feet to a road grade intersection.

A pole-mounted, freestanding sign in any industrial I, II or III district can't be closer than 500 feet to another similar pole.

In environmental, public use, residential or agricultural II districts, no signs are permitted.

All signs require approved sign permits, with three exceptions: a land owner in any district may erect a sign no larger than 2 square feet that states the name, address, professional activity or other message of the occupant of the premises on which the sign is located; a temporary real estate, construction or other sign not exceeding 9 square feet relating to the development or sale of land on the property being developed; or a temporary political sign.

Temporary political signs are permitted in any district and may be posted four months prior to the related election but must be removed within three days after the election. The signs may not be posted in a road or easement right of way and must comply with the rest of the ordinance.

Prior to the placement of a sign, a temporary sign permit must be obtained through the Plan Commission.

All signs must be erected or placed within six months of receiving a granted sign permit.

Sign structures stacked or mounted back-to-back are considered one sign and all requirements must be met.

Other issues addressed in the zoning ordinance amendments include residential fences, appeals from the hearing officer, restrictive farm covenants, subdivision entrance signs, flood control ordinances, floodways and non-conforming uses.

"This addresses a wide variety of things," Matt Sandy, Area Plan Commission assistant planner, told the commission Wednesday.

"It has been advertised so we can take these to the commissioners whenever the Plan Commission feels they're ready," he said.

The commission will vote on the amendments in July. If they approve the amendments in full or partially, the amendments will then go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners for final approval. [[In-content Ad]]

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