BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer

One down, one on the table - indefinitely.

Wednesday, after their regular business, the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission held a second public discussion on two new ordinances.

Their first public meeting on the ordinances was held Nov. 3.

The current subdivision ordinance states that less than 20 acres of land can't be sold off for subdivision. The amendment would have changed the number of acres from 20 to 40.

Remonstrator Merl Montel said, "I'm not for going to 40 acres if 40 acres is the minimum you can sell off."

Board president Vic Virgil said going from 20 to 40 acres is an attempt to preserve agricultural land.

Area Plan Director Dan Richard said the ordinance also will help promote residential subdivision instead of the "shotgun pattern out there now."

"Which wastes land," board member Kevin McSherry added.

Kip Tom said the county needs to plan for the future and needs to preserve agricultural land.

"It's not the homebuilders versus the farmers ... we have to look at what this will cost us in the future," he said. And, he added, "40 to 50 years from now, is Kosciusko County going to be attractive to any of us?"

The zoning and subdivision control ordinance amendments would have redefined a subdivision as three or more parcels, sites or lots. Now, a subdivision is four lots, sites or parcels.

Members of the public both for and against the zoning and subdivision control ordinance were on hand, causing the hearing on the ordinances to stretch to two hours.

One section of the new ordinances not discussed would raise the filing fee of any plat filed with the area plan commission from $15 to $100 to cover advertising costs.

The plan commission unanimously voted to table further discussion on the proposed changes. No reasons were given for the decision.

The board approved recommending the Kosciusko County Commissioners approve an ordinance concerning storm water runoff and erosion control, with minor changes. An ordinance amending the zoning and subdivision control ordinances was tabled indefinitely.

The storm water runoff and erosion control ordinance deals with storm water detention, drainage, erosion and sediment control, storm sewer design standards and penalties and fines.

The area plan commission members are Kelly Easterday, Don Ahrms, Kevin McSherry, Charlie Haffner, Kosciusko County Surveyor Richard Kemper, Norman Lovell, board president Vic Virgil and Barbara Carwile. [[In-content Ad]]