By Sean Rice
srice@dailystandard.com Eastern Jefferson Township effectively has a second property zoned under a new commercial-light (CL) zone put into effect this year by the Mercer County Commissioners.
A commissioner resolution Thursday changed a 10-acre parcel on the northeast corner of state Route 703 and Staeger Road from agriculture/residential to CL, which opens the door for a list of business possibilities for the land.
The zoning change will take effect after a 30-day appeal period has passed.
"I don't think it's practical to think anyone is going to want to build a home in that area," property owner Charles Ayers said during a public hearing Thursday, before commissioners approved the request.
Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Hinders, who also is a neighboring property owner, noted that Staeger Road is a feeder for the Celina Aluminum Precision Technology plant and other industrial land bordering U.S. 29. The request started as an application before the Mercer County Zoning Commission asking for a change to straight commercial zoning. The commission voted to change the request from commercial to CL, to narrow the list of approved business uses.
"Commercial-light zoning would better fit the area in question due to the dense residential ares to the south of this parcel," zoning commission Chairman Ed Raudabaugh said in notes from an Oct. 27 public hearing.
The residential area to the south is known as Scotty's Beach.
Ayers told the zoning commission the property is a good spot for a business.
The list of principal uses in the new commercial light zone are: agriculture, business/professional offices, daycare facilities, funeral homes, libraries and financial institutions. Uses in that zone which require a conditional use permit are: pet shops, standard restaurants, retail business, personal services, assisted living facilities, bed and breakfast shops, museums, nursing homes, schools, recreation and churches. |
