The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morningon an amendment to the zoning ordinance to create a Commercial Overlay District.
Overlay zoning is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district, placed over an existing zoning district which identifies special provisions in addition to those in the underlying base zone. Regulations are attached to the overlay district to protect a specific resource or development within a special area.
The proposed Commercial Overlay District would provide commercial uses serving both county residents and those traveling through the area. Typical uses that would be permitted include gas stations, restaurants, auto repair, hotels and motels, offices and roadside farm stands.
The proposed ordinance amendment could be used anywhere that is not under the jurisdiction of a city or town zoning ordinance although this particular ordinance is believed to have been created because of the interchange at the new US 31 and US 6.
Several citizens spoke against the overlay zoning amendment saying, commercial should be in LaPaz where the zoning is already designated commercial and there are building lots available. Their comments indicated that the community is struggling since the new road went in. There were also concerns of saving farm land.
Ralph Booker the County Plan Director said LaPaz recently created a comprehensive plan and with the new highway east of town there is an overlay for the interchange area in their plan.
After hearing from a half dozen concerned citizens The commissioners, Kurt Garner and Deb Griewank passed the ordinance amendment on first reading. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer was absent from the meeting. The commissioner will hear second and possibly third reading of the zoning amendment at their next meeting on Monday, March 16th.
