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Cities, county try to find zoning common ground

Staff reporter

A meeting for cities to voice concerns about county zoning regulations was held Thursday evening but few cities had representation and little was said.

Steve Garrett, city administrator of Hillsboro, was vocal about the need and importance for Hillsboro to have zoning jurisdiction up to three miles around the city.

State statutes allow cities to adopt zoning regulations and comprehensive plans within that three-mile radius if counties have excluded the land from county zoning regulations, or if the county does not have zoning regulations in effect.

"The area is pretty important to us," said Garrett. "I still feel annexation may be encouraged. Property owners near Hillsboro don't want to annex."

Garrett's other concern, he said, was events that could occur that could change growth patterns.

"The county does not have the same perspective as cities," said Garrett.

Clark Wiebe, a rural Hillsboro resident, said it would be wise for the county to have cities involved with zoning decisions.

"I can understand how some development could be a detriment to the city and to existing property owners," said Wiebe.

David Brazil, county zoning administrator, conducted the meeting on behalf of Marion County Commission.

He distributed information about possible changes to the county's zoning regulations that could impact cities.

Under the county's current regulations, land zoned agricultural can have single-family residential use, but at a density of at least 40 acres per residence.

The majority of the unincorporated land in the county is zoned agricultural.

Some cities have asked the county commission to consider liberalizing the regulations to either create exceptions to the 40-acre rule, or allow higher densities. It is in response to those requests the commission has asked the county planning commission to make recommendations for change.

The county is considering one set of amendments that could potentially affect any agricultural-zoned property. The other proposed amendment would apply only to agricultural-zoned land lying within one-mile of city limits.

He said the county's comprehensive plan encourages growth and annexation by cities. Areas of urban influence around Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody were included in the county's plan and zoning regulations.

Hillsboro and Peabody have a mile radius of urban influence and Marion has more because Marion County Park & Lake was included, said Brazil.

Only cities with zoning can have areas of urban influence.

Currently, when zoning issues occur within that area, both city and county planning commissions are involved in the process of determining change, Brazil said.

He reminded Garrett that the cities lost jurisdiction in that three-mile radius when the county adopted zoning regulations and the government entities need to find a common ground.

Cities could petition the county commission to relinquish that area to the cities.

Brazil reviewed the county's zoning regulations and proposed changes that would allow smaller parcels of agriculture land to be sold for housing.

Jim Clemmer, mayor of Tampa, asked about zoning of a specific parcel near Tampa. Brazil said he would assist the city with zoning but the city would need to decide if it could provide utilities.

Peabody mayor Tom Schmidt said he would take this information to the Peabody Planning Commission and return to a future meeting with viable suggestions.

Following questions from those in attendance, Brazil clarified that the county is responsible for infrastructure in the areas of urban influence around cities, regardless of the jurisdiction for zoning issues.

County resident June Shreves said she has seen road deterioration from traffic with one house and was concerned if more homes were allowed in a quarter section.

County commissioner Dan Holub said he would like to see parcels of less than 40 acres prior to the adoption of county zoning regulations in 1992, be allowed to make lot splits, more particularly near Goessel.

County planning commission member Bob Maxwell encouraged people to attend the weekly county commission meetings and monthly planning commission meetings if there are questions or concerns.

Eileen Sieger, county planning commission chairman, said there was a lot of misconceptions based on inaccurate information.

"People need to look at the comprehensive plan and zoning regulations and see what's actually there," Sieger said.

Brazil said when information is collected for possible changes to the county's zoning regulations, a formal draft will be drawn and presented to the county commission.

He said he wanted to have it in place by the end of this year or the beginning of next.

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