Planning board approves woodworking, lumber business
Staff reporter
Marion County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals met Thursday and reviewed and approved four applications.
Clark Wiebe of 1131 190th, Hillsboro, applied for and received a conditional use permit for a woodworking show and retail hardwood lumber sales.
Wiebe said he had retired from farming and returning to custom woodworking.
The lumber operation would be totally enclosed within the existing buildings. Lumber sales would be minimal and would be for home woodworking projects.
Wiebe stated he had no intention of having a large lumber inventory.
The products and services Wiebe plans to provide are kitchen cabinets, furniture, and the restoration of damaged or older furniture.
In his application, there is a possibility of an addition of a 15x40-foot area for a showroom and office space. Even with the addition, Wiebe said there would adequate space for parking.
Eileen Sieger, commission chairman, asked if an acre would be sufficient for the permit. Wiebe answered it would.
David Brazil, county zoning administrator, added a conditional use permit had been issued to a greenhouse business nearby.
Brazil said the location was along a paved road with minimal public traffic.
Bob Unruh, commission member, asked Brazil about hazardous waste. Discussion followed that those issues are the responsibility of the property owner.
The commission approved the permit as submitted on one acre with a 4x8-foot sign. No outside storage of materials will be allowed, necessary disposal of waste materials, and necessary upgrades to the waste water system if necessary.
Judy Forney spoke on behalf of her husband, Richard, who had applied for a front setback variance.
The Forneys purchased the home at 74 Lakeshore Drive and were not aware a cement slab located at the front of the house was within the front setback.
The owners decided to add a room to their home, using the existing concrete slab plus one additional foot. They were made aware of the need of a construction permit and Brazil discovered the addition was located in the setback area.
Brazil could not issue a permit so the new addition was built without a permit.
"Most lake properties are zoned village but this one is zoned suburban residential," reported Brazil.
The difference in the two zoning districts is an owner must maintain a minimum of one-acre of land to be in the suburban residential district and to obtain any additional permits.
The board of zoning appeals approved the variance from a 50-foot front setback to a 45-foot setback.
Two other applications were approved for rezoning from agricultural to rural residential.
Kenneth Gehrer of 1585 Sunflower, Marion, recently purchased the property and was not aware of county zoning regulations.
The property had been surveyed and the Gehrers were wanting to divide it into two tracts. Rural residential would be 11.98 acres with the remaining 50 acres being used for pasture and purchased by their son, Korey.
Sieger stated she did not understand why realtors do not notify the prospective owners of the zoning regulations.
Commissioners approved the application to rezone a minimum of 10 and maximum of 11.98 acres from agricultural to rural residential. The owner is to bring the waste water lagoon system into compliance with a fence.
The final application was from Dan Holub of 1953 240th, Marion.
Holub owns an 80-acre tract and no longer is farming. He wants to sell part of the crop land and retain 19.5 acres which would change to rural residential.
Unruh asked Holub why he wanted to retain so much of the land. Holub answered he wanted ample space for his family to ride horses and maintain the rural lifestyle to which he is accustomed.
Holub told the commission the resident's septic tank is compliant. Brazil said he could not inspect it when the application was made due to the snow. Brazil will check the system for compliance.
The commission approved the application with Unruh opposing because he did not see the need to rezone the full 19.5 acres.
Following the public hearings, the board reviewed the first draft of the updated zoning regulations.
The commission and board of zoning appeals will meet at 7:30 p.m. March 25 in the courthouse.
