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Deadline nears for changes to proposed zoning ordinance

By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

Anyone wishing to have zoning changes included in the proposed new countywide zoning, subdivision and land development ordinance should speak now or forever hold their peace. In order for the ordinance to be ready for adoption later this month by the Fayette County commissioners, revisions and changes must be submitted to the county Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development early this week.

Tammy Shell, executive director of the county office, said the changes must be submitted “at the absolute latest by Wednesday, June 8.”

Shell said the deadline must be followed to allow enough time for a consultant to review the ordinance and for revisions to be made before the commissioners take action on it June 21.

Work began on the new ordinance more than three years ago. The ordinance will replace one in effect since 1968. Ten municipalities in the county have their own zoning regulations.

Despite the fact that a series of public meetings was held to explain the ordinance and copies of the proposed law were sent to each of the 32 municipalities that will fall under its requirements, Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink said she has learned that many landowners remain unaware that their land may be zoned differently once the ordinance is adopted.

As a way to give everyone the opportunity to provide input into the ordinance, Zimmerlink sent out a letter May 31 to each of the 32 municipalities in the county that will fall under the ordinance, urging local officials to submit changes as soon as possible.

Zimmerlink said she sent the letter for two reasons, to get the changes in on time and also to solicit the assistance of the local officials to make sure the residents are aware of the impending ordinance.

Although Shell could not provide any figures regarding how many parcels will be rezoned, she said one of the main changes involved properties being rezoned from agricultural to residential due to planned infrastructure changes.

Shell said, for example, that Franklin Township officials revised their proposed designations and Menallen and Georges township officials also made changes.

Once the ordinance is enacted, the county’s zoning hearing board should face fewer special exception hearings because numerous home-based businesses with low impact will be permitted without a special exception. Shell said one such example would be an Internet business that does not have any traffic.

The ordinance includes the creation of a new zoning district, a village district, which will apply to coal patch towns.

The ordinance includes more extensive uses and specific definitions.

In the ordinance, each zoning classification includes a minimum lot size. For rural residential property, the minimum lot size is 3 acres.

The minimum lot size drops to 1 acre for low-density residential, one-quarter acre for moderate-density residential and one-eighth acre for high-density residential and the village designation.

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