Plan Commission - Regular Meeting

So there's like a hole here. One up on the hill and one here. Good evening everyone. Like to call the Cisro Jackson Township Planning Commission meeting to order at 7 o'clock p.m. Mr. Zawatsky, will you do roll call, please? Yes, sir. Dan Strong, present. Wendy Gillespie, present. Harrison Msani, present. Dennis Shrunk, present. Dennis Johnson, present. Eric Hayden, present. Mark Diller, present. Mark Thomas present. Ford Hebner present. Our legal counsel Aaron Culp

present. I'm Frank Sawski plan director and I am present. And good evening Mrs. Strong recording from home. Okay. I'll declare a quorum with all nine members present. Thank you all for being here this evening. So with that we'll move on to approval of our minutes from the July 9th meeting. Hopefully everyone's had an opportunity to review those and uh any additions, corrections or comments at this particular time.

Mr. Chairman, Dennis Trump. Um on page uh three, the legal council's report, the second line, uh makes a re recommendation. I'm not quite sure how that's supposed to read it. No longer if the town council doesn't do that. Uh I was a little confused by that. I'll second that. Well, what do you want to answer? I mean, what it's saying is there was a rule change council declined it, it doesn't have to come back.

Okay. Okay. Well, other than that one, I would move that we approve the meeting, the minutes of the meeting from July 9th, 2025. Are you asking for a change to that or Well, just I was asking for clarification that that be, you know, worded a little bit better than it is, but otherwise the minutes are, you know, I would move to approve them. So, I'm if I heard correctly and Mr. Thomas weigh in here too because I think you interpret it the same way. So, if we go back and change the wording on that a little bit, then will that suffice? Yeah. Yeah. Just just to clarify that, I guess, for lack of a better term, clean it up.

Okay. Okay. So, are you just to be clear, you're talking about if the town council didn't use recommendation, it came back to plan commission for Well, the way it's worded, that's once the make it no long it no longer if the town council doesn't do that. you know, the wording error is if that can be cleaned up a little bit. Otherwise, I have no problem with it. I know what they're trying to say, but it's just the way it's worded. So, here's here's where it's right there, Dan. That's the problem. I agree that it no longer Yeah.

is the problem. So, we'll uh clean that up and make sure that's uh clarified in the minutes then. Yeah. And otherwise, I would move that we approve them with it once that's uh you know what that that little housekeeping items take care of. Thank you, Mr. Shrup. Anything else from anyone? Okay. Then I would look for a motion then to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. President, Eric second that motion. Dennis's motion. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Hayden. We have a motion and second to approve our minutes as amended. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Okay. Mr. Zawatchki, did you make a note of that as well? I did, sir. Okay. Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. Okay. Moving on to public comment. This would be the opportunity for anyone in the public that would like to speak to the board this evening on anything outside of the agenda items tonight. So, if there was anyone that would like to do that, if you'd step forward to the podium. Okay. Seeing no one coming forward, we'll move on then. So, old business, Mr. Swatch, anything under old business? Mr. President, I show no old business.

Thank you, sir. Moving on to new business. We have docket number PC-09-25-09-C3. The petitioner is Bullseye Fence Design Incorporated at 22179US31 North in Cisro. This is for an overlay district. Applications been submitted concerning a fence for the property located at that address. And with that being said, petitioners here this evening, if you would state your name and address for the records and tell us a little bit about what you're proposing. Uh Ryan Householder with Bullseye Fence Design, Inc. Uh located at 22179 US31 North, the first commercial property north of 216th Street on US 31, just north of 216 on the east side. Uh we propose to build an 8- foot tall privacy fence along US 31 to uh block and secure our storage facility at this time. An 8 foot tall solid western red cedar privacy fence. And so can you go back So it's where the red line is,

correct? Where the blue line on the other the blue line is an existing fence there that you can see approximately 170 ft to the east there. Okay. So it's adding the red. Exactly. Yes. So it appears from looking at it that you've continued to grow your business and you've It's caused some storage issues, correct? From looking at it. So, that's a requirement of the fencing if I understand it correctly.

Correct. Yes. We're just out of area to store materials and so we' had to push some stuff closer to US 31 than we originally had thought and uh we would like to just block off that area um to secure it as well as to not be viewed from from US 31. I'm still confused. I'm sorry. Is when you look at the Go back to the Go back down. He went to see the one with the blue line. Oh, yeah. The one with the blue. Oh, the blue line. So, the blue line says proposed fence. This is an old one. An old plot plan.

Yes, that is an old plot plan that you see right there. There. There should be additional uh plot plans maybe that I submitted. If that's anywhere else, if you scroll down, there's the wood privacy fence that's already existing right there. Okay. I think that's the plot plan I have included in there. So basic, can you go back to that plot plan then? Right. Just for clarification. So basically, if we understand correctly, this is where your current fence is. Correct. Yes. This might have been when you went through a process.

Yes. When we first bought the property in 2010, that's where we had the privacy fence. Yes. Yeah. Just a couple feet to the east of the uh the highway fence. That's right there. Yeah. Correct. Yes. Yes. How much is it a couple feet? I mean, is it two feet or is it We want enough room that we can maintain the area between the chain link fence that's existing for the highway and the privacy fence. So, a few feet that we can get a lawnmower through there and we can trim and, you know, keep the vegetation from growing on top of the fence.

Once your access is closed on 31, are you going to put any additional fence along your southern border there? Yes, we would like to once the access is closed off of 31. There's a that other 170 ft to go from 31 due east on both sides. We would like to then block it off completely there once they shut down the US 31 access. Right now, a lot of times we're using the the new road that's to the east of the property that that terminates and ends in our at our property. So, yes, it would be fully enclosed at that time. and it would match the existing fence that's already in place.

So, Mr. Zawadsky, I know I believe they went before the Board of Zoning Appeals to uh because there was a couple of standards variances that they need to pursue and those were approved. That is correct. So, we're strictly dealing with the aesthetics of the fence this evening. That's correct. That is yes sir. Yeah. So actually you are you are asking in that you were asking to also do the north and south. Correct. Yes. Not just

correct. Yes. If you want to hook that in, I can try to show that on the screen if you don't mind. Yeah. So, it was about 310 ft or so on the far west side of the property and about 170 ft uh going uh east and west to the existing privacy fence. Take a minute to catch up. There it is right there. Yeah, there's a new updated fence right there. There you go.

Turn your microphone.

Great. Yeah, that's what that's what we would like to do right there. fully enclose it to secure it as well as to block the view from US 31. And then the blue fence is coming down. No, that's going to remain. We can take it down if you would like, but we had thought that that would remain to separate the the storage facility right there. So that how we enter the storage facility?

Uh there's a large gate in there. We have a 20 foot sliding gate in there. So, we secure the facility right now in two areas. Once on the south side where it says exactly right there and then the other one is right where you can kind of see that drive where it says plus or minus 170 on the south side right there. We have two gates to enter the property. Yes. And then the access road, the new access road is on the south side. It's on the far norththeast corner of the property. You go, if you scroll up, it's the very very northeast corner of the property is where the new road comes into our property.

So then how do you get down to your storage after that's 31's going away, right? The access, right? So then once that goes away, how do you get down to that? We have a gate in the blue fence, a blue line right now. So you come through that. Exactly. So you'll come in off Englewood Drive. That's the name of the road. Yes. We'll be coming in off Englewood Drive for all everything because they're going to shut off our access off US 31. Is that where the new like It's almost like a circle like

Exactly. There's a new little culde-sac that ends right there at our property. Yes. Is the fence going to be stained at all or just as it appears here? This is the fence.

Uh we would like to keep it the gray color which is the same color as our building. Uh matches our building very very well which is gray. We like that natural silver look if you will. I mean, we're we're a fence company and so this is routine work for us. You know, we do this on a daily basis

and you are planning to maintain that two feet in between. Yeah. And you know, a few feet. Yeah. We'll we'll be able to mow and maintain that, not let the vegetation climb up on top of the fence and and things of that nature. Yes. And then I saw somewhere, I don't remember where, it was an 8ft fence, correct?

Yes, sir. I don't have any questions. Any other questions or comments by board members at this point?

Okay. Thank you. So, uh discussion amongst the board. I have a question in regard to the the north and south fences. Could we should we go ahead and approve that this evening? That's all right. Has the BCA already approved the north and south? They have. Okay. Yes. And otherwise then he's going to have to come back again for those two or not. We would prefer not. The whole purpose of this fence to start was for effective screening,

right? Um I reached out to the petitioner here to about all the stuff stored out front. We asked him to screen it. He said that they would and then it turns out that the ordinance is a little funny there. So in order for him to effectively screen, he didn't meet another standard which necessitated the BCA process and then now we're here. Were those BCA items? They were they were uh 50% visibility in the front. Um 4 foot tall height. Correct. Okay. All right.

So with uh since this is for a aesthetic review of a fence, I think you know the board has a latitude. I think we got a little bit confused because we didn't have this this rendering to look at and felt that we to begin with we were only looking on it along US 31 and now I think we're aware that we were sort of including that north and south as well as that west elevation. So I would think that we could approve the fence as shown in the red if the board would like to do so.

So the only question would be do you require any like on the blue this previous that had trees along the fence I mean do we require any of that? I don't know what's in our standards to to break that up. I mean, I think I think it for me it makes an improvement the way it is because there is stuff stored out there. Correct. I think those trees are there. Well, I think uh if I understood the question, should we require some trees along the new fence or is it required per standards? And I don't think it's required per standards

for an existing property. So, Well, based on his statement that they want to get a mower through there, plant trees, then that would add to the difficulty of getting a mower through and make it harder for them to maintain the property. So, I'd rather see it trimmed and cut mowed. Okay. Any other discussion? Not then I would look for a motion. All of our motions are done in the affirmative. Doesn't necessarily mean that's the way the vote will go, but all of our motions are done that way. So I would look for a motion.

Mr. Harrison. I move to approve number.

Thank you, Mr. Misani. Looking for a second. Wendy Gillespie. I second that. Thank you, Mrs. Gillespie. So, we have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote. So, with that, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hayden, approve. Mr. Diller, approve. Mr. Mr. Thomas approved. Mr. Heavner approved. Mr. Gillespie approved. Mr. Misani approved. Mr. Shrimp approved. And Mr. Strong, I approve. So, you are approved. And thank you for your willingness to uh help us to continue to keep everything out there looking nice and your willingness to put up a fence.

You're welcome. We We love Jackson Township in Cicero. We plan on being here for many more years. And obviously we want it to look good for the community as well as you know we're one of the first properties you see going north into Jackson Township. So yeah, we appreciate everything. Thank you very much. Okay, we'll get to start on this here. Should be done in a few weeks. Okay, if you'll see Mr. Zatskin work with him on, you know, whatever you need for permits and everything and absolutely. All righty, sir. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Thank you. We wanted to see what you were typing up over there.

I'm sorry.

I'm ready for you. Moving on to uh other new business, we have docket number PC-0825-10-N which is neighborhood commercial. The petitioner is the furniture garage. They're located at 49 East Jackson Street here in Cisro. This is another aesthetic review overlay district application in regards to signage for the property at that location. So, it looks like we have someone here representing the petitioner. If you would state your name and address for our records and uh tell us what you're proposing, please.

U my name is Kelly Longstreth. The address is 49 East Jackson Street, Cisro. Um, we are proposing to put a projecting sign at the storefront just because where we sit back from the road so we can be more visible for traffic. The sign company will um reinforce that pole that's currently there as well with what's needed for the site. So in this particular case too, Mr. Before we have discussion, I believe this went through the board of zoning appeals also. It did. It was approved for a projecting sign greater than 18 in and also to exceed the footage.

So the projecting sign was is it exceeded the 18 in from the wall that it's supported by. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you.

Comments, questions, board members? So it's the same picture on both sides. Yes.

So in this particular case since it's a projecting sign both sides do apply towards square footage but it's I believe it's total of 32 square feet and they are allowed up to 75 square feet since it's a multi-tenant. So the biggest issue is the distance away from

that would be correct. But they got uh so we're only looking at the aesthetics of the sign because the board of zoning appeals approved them exceeding the 18 inches from the wall of the building with their sign. So it's whether we feel this is a nice looking sign and fits that quarter. And so one side is 18 square feet. So two sides is 32. Is that correct? That Yes. I think it's Yeah, it was my Purdue map. I'm sorry. So, that would be correct. It's a little bit different from a monument sign in because in a monument sign, you only look at one side for square footage, but in a projecting sign, it's totally both.

Okay. So, I I guess the question is, do you have any That 75 square feet goes into total signage, correct? So, do you have any other signs that you're planning on putting up? No, that's the only one. Or that you may want to put up like hours or anything in the future. So, Mr. Hayden's trying to give you a little latitude if you think you might have some additional signage you're looking at since you're below the 75 square feet in regards to if you wouldn't want to post your door hours or your open hours or whatever that might be. How um how have we done that in the past just upon review with on the door?

Mr. You would like to have hours on the door? I can answer this. Those are consideredformational signs which are exempt. So hours, hiring, enter here, exit here, those are all exempt. Yeah. But if they want to put something else up, have we allowed that in the past based on your discretion? We have

This is our main goal right here is this sign. And you you do have another sign up now. You're going to probably take it down once this this one goes up. Yes. Are there lights on this one? There's not. Do you anticipate it'll be lighted at any point? No. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah, it is actually a pretty cool sign. I like it anyway. Yeah, looks nice. So, I'll make a motion to approve the sign as presented of 32 square feet and allow is it 32 or 36? 32 square feet. It's 32. It's like four by four. So, it's Yeah, there's that for your math again. You weren't a math major, dude.

I said 32. So anyway, I'll make a motion to approve the 32 square feet sign as presented and able to add additional signage at the discretion of the plan director of 75 square feet and that would be as long as the signage meets our ordinances. So as long as the signage meets sister ordinances. Thank you. I'll second that then. Okay. Thank you. So we have a motion and a second. We'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Heavner, approve. Mr. Thomas, approve. Mr. Diller, approve. Mr. Hayden, approve. Mr. Johnson, approve. Mr. Shrimp, approve. Mr. Mason, approve.

Mrs. Gillespie, approve. And I Dan Strong will approve as well. So, you're approved of that and good luck with your business. And uh I would totally agree with the comments everyone said. It's a very nice looking sign. So, thank you. Thank you. So, I did have to ask real quick, what kind of furniture? Just anything and everything. So, we actually have furniture.

Okay. Welcome, sister. What's that? [Laughter]

Okay, moving on to other new business. We have docket number PC-0925-13-R5. Petitioner is Tom Monroe. Address is 299 North Peru Street here in Cisro. This is a reszone application. It's been submitted concerning article 13 of the Cicero Jackson Township zoning ordinances in order to reszone a partial currently zoned as R5 Oaktown residential district to NC neighborhood commercial district. So petitioner looks like you're here this evening sir if you would state your name and address for the records and tell us why why you would like to do this and what you're proposing. Thank you.

My name is Tom Monroe. I live at 700 Iron Bridge here in Cicero. We bought the 29, this is about the 299 North Peru Street. We bought that building a few years ago right after we moved here. Uh we've improved the facility, moved a business into it, and we'd like permission to be able to um well do something with the front that with customers. If we want to make a design studio or uh if we want to be able to sell retail out of it, we'd like to be able to do that. uh our business. You know, recently Cicero has had some really exciting things happen and we plan on being a part of it. In order to be able to do that, uh we need to be able to sell retail out of the front of it. Uh we operate our business out of the back of it right now. If we want to um well, I guess anybody that would be in the front in front of it uh would need the ability to be able to sell out of it. that I'm referring to that if you look at the building, the part with the cedar wrapped around it. All right. Um that's what we we would like to do something with and we have a few viable options right now. Um and you know, we've fixed up the building quite a bit. I don't I don't I guess what we're looking to do is just have permission to be able to really run a business out of it and sell retail and uh and I and I don't want to have to go through something like this if there's changes in the future. You know, I I'm not sure if there's a better way to put it. Well, that's what it looked like when we took it over. I'm not sure if anybody saw that. you know, if everybody knows the property, but that's what it looked like when we bought it. We made significant improvement and as we were

making improvement, you know, we were getting ourselves acclimated to the town of Cisro, its direction and what the capabilities are. And I think we've seen some really exciting progress and with things that coincide with what we'd like to see and we want to be a part of it. And um we'll continue to improve the building and do things that um really kind of coordinate with the plan of Cicero and what the people want and need. And uh like I said, we want to be a part of that.

So if I understand correctly, your intent is basically you have someone wanting to the front of your building and your concern is if I'll use for an example that that tenant leaves and you want to bring another tenant in that you might have to go through this process again. So you're looking to potentially reszone it so you have multiple uses for your facility or your building at this particular time.

Right now I we have an option on the table right now somebody wants to put a jewelry store in. There's no question about that. whether we do that or not is going to be bes I want it to be beside the point. All right. Because I don't know if that's going to happen truthfully, but uh because since I started that conversation, the town of Cicero itself has advanced with things. The new development that's going on out there and that's something that we're directly involved with and I think we can actually be a part of that. And if there are future developments and in order to be able to do that, I I I'll want the zoning. If I decide that uh we don't know what could happen in the future, uh maybe it's not the best option for us. Maybe it is the jewelry store, but I want to be able to have the option to do those things.

So, currently you operate a business in the back part in your And that used to be the office for the old was it cases? Caseies. Yeah, Casey. But, uh, and so right now that's kind of cleared out. It's not cleared out. No, I I still have a section in the front, but I don't have permission to do retail. So, I've never sold retail out of the front. Gotcha.

All right. And if I have the ability to sell retail out of the front, I might do something with the front. I'll at least I'll have the ability to do it. If I get permission to do this, there's no plan to execute starting tomorrow with anything, but it's hard to make a plan when I don't know what I'm capable of doing. And right now I don't have the capability of doing what I would want to do if I wanted to sell retail. We make today Supreme Surface is a brand of specialty cleaners and uh niche products for sinks and countertops and we're recommended by manufacturers such as Krauss USA and Blanco sinks and we make products and we handle their customer service for them in the front of that building right now. All right. All customer service for people that want to restore their sinks or whatever. If they can't handle it there, they send them to me and I take care of that. We sell products online. I'm not big on retail and I don't think we really have the type of products uh the product niche for the way Cicero is right. It's not a great fit for that, but at some point I believe that it will be. But I think there is a great opportunity for me to do several different things. One, well, if I wanted to rent it out, I'll need permission to be able to do it. if I want to uh with the homarama coming up with the baggie, you know, the builders association of greater Indianapolis uh what I've talked to well Stonemart, you know, there's a group of stone people that have presented to me the you know, maybe turn that into something where I can outfit it with stone floors and stone showers and kitchenetses and things like that. maybe a selection center where if somebody is going to I'm sorry. If somebody is going to make a selection for a home, they can send them to maybe there and make selections if they wanted. You know, it's not a busy thing.

It's something that maybe you get a person or two a day or whatever. Uh but and if people came in, I'd be able to sell retail to them too. uh if I wanted to move myself back you know for 28 years I was Indiana's largest tile and stone company and residential sector there's a you know I don't have any intention of making a selection center for stone there myself right now I'm not I make stone care products today but I would maybe like to take our stone care products and if I opened up a multi multi-urface line, the Supreme Surface Daily Cleaner, a street free multi-urface product. Well, uh, that now opens up for local community. I mean, I can I can develop a label for the local community and people can come in and pick up cleaning supplies if they want it. It's an option and I guess that's what I'm looking for. I have I want viable options and to do that I need what I'm asking. And right now, is there a demising wall behind the cedar part or is that something if a tenant comes in, you would probably want to add?

There's a wall there right now with a door and it but it's glass. Sure. Right. So, if you walk in the front of the building, you can look through to the back and there is separation. All right. Um there's a there's a door a 32 inch or Yeah, 32 inch door I believe. And then next to that there's probably you know, maybe a three-foot section of glass where you can look into the back, right? And there's a lot of really interesting possibilities on what I can do from the inside with my tanks, you know, but I just want to know what I'm capable of right now. I'm not capable of doing anything like that.

So, if everyone probably just went through the board of zoning appeals, it's been a few years now. Just to give you a brief history. So, this was Case's car clinic, if everyone remembers that. Uh, the zoning for that property was an R5. So, when Mr. Monroe decided that he wanted to move his business in there and fix up the property, then he went through a land use variance and was granted a land use variance to operate his current business. So, I think it, you know, from what I'm hearing, I think he's looking for there would be some additional uses he might use in the future. This might keep him coming in every time and looking for a land use variance.

That's exactly That's exactly how gives me the ability to do it.

Questions or comments for Mr. Monroe at this time? Now, the only thing I would say so in this and we've looked at it in the past. If you look at permitted uses and special exception uses, so those would be the permitted uses would be what he would be allowed to do out in an NC district if the board approved a recommendation to the town council. And keep in mind, this is only a recommendation to the town council, either favorable, un favorable. But if it moved on to the town council, we could if there's things that the board would not like to see there, you certainly can add that to a motion. You know, if you look at a special exception, it might be as simple as I'm not sure that I sort of looked at it that we would want a recycling collection point there in the future. So, if there's things that you see that we might not want there, that that could be part of approval process as well. And we have done that with another property in town as well in the past. That was a few years back.

Are there any other concerns us?

Sure.

Well, I think that's question for the board. I had a couple other ones, but I'd like to comments from board members before I throw anything else out. So, and we're just looking at, you know, there's a a long list of permitted uses and special exception uses there. And there might be some possibilities of and I'll use for example three or four that might you know the board might not like to see in the future there for obvious reasons but it still would give you the the bulk or of the items that you're looking for for approval. thoughts.

Yeah, I actually had three that I'll throw out since no one's throwing out theirs. So, I had looked I am a little concerned that the possibility of a utility substation being there and I wasn't sure if we would want even though I know it was a car repair shop there previously, but I'm not sure that we would want an automobile service station there. And the only reason I say that our ordinance for automobile service station does allows gas pumps and those things

and knowing that uh you know the town is doing some additions to Catherine Street and some concerns that's been shared with the town on Flanigan that of that being a narrow corridor down through there. Those were three things that I looked at it. I wasn't sure that we would want to approve as part of this process. I would agree in looking over the list.

And then the other one is the recycling collection point. And the only reason I looked at that, I looked at what recycling collection points allows. And our ordinance says it cannot be outdoor, but if you look at it, it does have numerous bins and things. And then I was concerned a little bit from the amount of traffic coming in and picking up, you know, the recycle materials and some of the things that might be there. I didn't know if that fit there based on location. So So even though those are all under special exception, if we make that requirement, they cannot go to the BCA.

They have hardship.

Now, can the petitioner commit that those would never be there and do a commitment? Yeah. What I would suggest is

I believe that's what we've done in the past. That's the only reason I asked that question. And that still I think you know from looking at the other items I think most everything else there fits and would be appropriate there. And some of those I mean spacewise certainly would not be there. It would be hard for probably a a large convenience store anything there but a small one could be there and some of those things but those were the three that I had questions on whether they would fit there or not and be appropriate. So So I guess I would ask you Mr. role. If we had some of those that we spelled out that way, would you be willing to agree to that and do a commitment that those would not be there?

Yes. Okay. Thank you, sir. Discussion, comments, keeping in mind this is a recommendation to the town council when we get to that point. But at this point, thank you, Minister Monroe. We'll need to open this up for public hearing at this point. Does require public hearing since this is a resone. So with that being said, I would look for a motion to open the public hearing. So move, Mr. Strong, Eric Hayden. Thank you, Mr. Hayden. Looking for a second. Seconded. Dennis Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Johnson. We have a mo motion and a second to open the public hearing. And all in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Is there anyone from the public that would like to speak in regards to this reszone request this evening? Okay. Could I have you step up to the microphone for me and state your name and address for the records, please?

I'm Janetta Brand and I'm at 20 Plan Street. I'm in the apartments directly across from the building and he's made a major improvement. We like him as a neighbor. He's quiet. He's clean. Is wonderful compared to the automobile place. Okay. I don't know what else to say, but I want to keep him. Thank you. Yes.

Is there anyone else that has any comments or questions for the board? Thank you. Well, I think we would all agree that the property has uh improved and Mr. Monroe has done a nice job there. So, so with that, I would look for a motion to close the public hearing. Thank you. We have a motion and second to close the public hearing. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed?

Okay. Any additional comments by the board members? [Laughter] So anyone

So was there anything additional that we might want to exclude or was everyone comfortable with those or you want leave those in or

I'm good with the three exclusions.

So, so I'll just state for everyone here. So, after hearing all the information and conducted public hearing this evening, our role is to consider all the information presented to the board by the petitioner, all the public comments. Thank you. zoning ordinance and considering the comprehensive plan and any other information that has presented to the board for consideration this evening. The planning commission will only vote to send a favorable unfavorable recommendation or as we have done most recently, no recommendation to the town council on the reszone request. This will be only a recommendation to the town council as the town council has final approval or disapproval of the reszone request as it necessates a map change which that falls under their legislative functions. So with that I guess I would look forward to the board to see if they're ready to make a recommendation. And if so then I would look for a motion for a recommendation and way or the other.

Mr. Chairman Dennis Rump, I would make a motion that we send a favorable recommendation for the resoning of this property um to exclude the three um businesses that we have previously spelled out, but that we send a favorable recommendation of docket PC0925-13-R5 to the town council and that would be that recommendation would clude that that was a written commitment that would be recorded. Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you for your motion. And Mr. Chairman Ford Heer, I would second that motion. Mr. Heavner, we have a motion and a second. We will do a roll call vote. So, Mr. Diller,

approve. Mr. Thomas, approve. Mr. Heavner, approve. Miss Gillespie, approve. Mr. Msani, approve. Mr. Shrimp, approve. Mr. Johnson, approve. Mr. Hayden,

approve. and then strong I approve. So just so you know, Mr. Monroe, this was a recommendation to the town council. This will move on to the town council. Our next town council meeting is uh September the 16th, which would be next Tuesday. So you think, Mr. Cult, that would be sufficient to be able to get the information to them for Tuesday's meeting or should they move to October? Okay. So, so if you would uh come to the meeting on Tuesday here at 7 o'clock if you're available and present uh to the town council and they would have final say on your reason.

Thank you very much. And if you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Zawatski. Thank you. You've done a nice job with your business there. Thank you, sir. One of the board members uh repeat that fourth condition for me. The one you made, Harrison. There were three. It was three. Mr. Masani was saying he thought that the restaurant fit there, I believe. Correct. Utility substation, recycling collection station, and automobile service station, right? That was the only three, right? Yeah. The three. Yeah. Oh, you were just making a comment. He thinks he thinks we need a restaurant.

Oh, yeah. I got it right. Okay. Thank you. So, moving on the planer plan director report, Mr. Zatski.

Yes, sir. Uh, good evening, plan commission. I have here in front of me the latest version of the director's report. This is for August of 2025. Permit revenue for the month of August 2025 is $4,619. Brings us up to a year to date of $34,546. At the same time last year, August of 2024, we were at $8,394 for the month and $40,782 for the year. That's a difference for the month of August, a minus $3,775 and a minus for the year, $6,236. We issued a total of 21 building permits for August of 2025. 14 were for inside the corporate limits. No new homes there. We issued another seven out in Jackson Township. No new homes there either. Estimated cost of these projects permitted was $349,861. Uh we do have a BCA meeting scheduled for September 18th here at town hall. Uh there are items on the docket. Um I wanted to add an update uh to our what we're calling the rightaway permit. It's officially called the encroachment permit. Uh that's going really well. a lot of business uh generating uh a whole bunch of revenue. But the uh the best thing is is that we now have a means to protect ourselves when uh these contractors come in and drill or dig or install utilities in our property. So that's going well. There's a current project by Frontier going on uh starting down at the end the south end of Stringtown Pipe and coming north. So that's my report. Anybody have any questions for me? Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Zawatsky. So, moving on to president's report. So, I had a couple of things this evening. One of those was I know we did not have a meeting last month, so it probably sort of slipped through the

cracks a little bit, but the previous meeting we talked about starting to look at ordinance updates and, you know, some changes and some of those things. And I don't know if anyone had an opportunity to go back and start looking at those and uh start putting a list together and your thoughts of things that we might want to take a look at whether it's as simple as a definition that we might want to correct or make it more understandable or some of those things. But if everyone would uh try to between now and the next meeting to put together sort of a little list or what your thoughts might be so we can start having a little bit of discussion on that next month. I certainly would appreciate it. I know uh Mr. Zawatski's been working on a somewhat of a list that we've been keeping track of over the last couple years. I have some things on a list, but I know there's some things that we might want to address. And I'll go back just as simple as uh trying to figure out the pole sign and the monument sign that uh which actually I've reddrafted and I have a a draft of it that I'll be glad to bring. But I think our intent is that we start working s through some of these things and knowing that we'll go into probably getting with a consulting firm at some point to help us with some of these amendments and things that we're going to do. But I think starting the process there are certainly things that we can do internally that can streamline that process by bringing forward our list start saying okay from what we can work on here as as opposed to take it to a consultant because I would like to think shortly after the first year that we would start really digging into these and saying okay what do we need help on what do we don't need help on and where do we go from here and that process could take months and there may be some things as this board would like to go ahead and put in place over the next two or three months. And there's some things if we

could do internally to streamline that, I think it certainly would help. So any thoughts or comments on that at this particular time or

Sure. Well, no apologies needed. Mr. Strong mentioned sign ordinance. I mean, as you drive through communities, kind of what you like about signs and what you don't like about signs is a challenge for everybody. Sure. Um came up.

So, we've looked at that and we probably have a definition we can use to fix that particular issue. Can bring that forward for everyone to take a look at. But those are, I think, some of the things that, you know, we're going to be looking that we can do to help streamline this process a little bit. And then also, you know, we may not want to wait the the nine months to if there's some things that really stand out that we think that we need to move on to the council for out of this board for their approval with changes in the ordinances, we certainly can do that as well. So, just want everybody to take some time, start thinking about it, get your thoughts together, and we can continue to discuss, especially at meetings that we don't have a lot going on. And not that I know everybody doesn't like having a night off, but uh might give us something to do so I don't have to cancel meetings. So I guess that's where I'm still learning on some of this stuff. But condition whereas R5, you know, I guess that's where I'm looking at it. Neighborhood commercial. Is that defined or is that also what we're looking at is expanding the neighborhood commercial zone and defining better what it should

so go ahead.

So I think in this particular case we we've had internally and I mean internally Mr. the watch and eye. So looking at the the major piece of along State Road 19 for for whatever reason that did not get zone neighborhood commercial was from behind Iris River down to Flanakin Street. Now, why that happened, I'm not 100% sure. Whether that was the board at that particular time thought that the likelihood of any of that ever being sold and potentially being a business or the residents had lived there for many years. Cases had been there for many years, so they probably were never going to go away. So, maybe that was a consideration. And I don't know that the answer. We've sort of scratched our head trying to figure out why that was. So, you know, we briefly talked about that we may want to trying to do some resoning in the future, but I think that can be part of this process. I think, you know, looking in the future, do we feel that the downtown commercial districts large enough that, you know, maybe in the future we might want to look at or excuse me, C Street or what's next? Buckeye. Would you want to maybe in the future expand that and broaden the downtown commercial district or make those areas neighborhood commercial? So I think those are all conversations we can have in the future.

So if that answered your question, sorry. I think it definitely helps. It just is new to me thinking that like it makes me think American Legion commercial. Sure. You know, and what used to be church years of accounting and all the other stuff. What does that sound? So that's downtown commercial. Okay, gotcha. So

So the other part of it is take a downtown commercial. I mean if you think there's a different opportunity that maybe should be on the accepted list. Um we can have that discussion or on the exemption list or any of those or so this is One thing that sticks in my head, I don't know which zoning, but um you know, a lot of the newer generations don't like as much yard. So, you know, with developments, does it make sense to throw R2 pick some different setbacks with some caveats? I don't know. I mean, I'm thinking about that building on 32 where they have multi-unit homes to get like town homes together. Um, same as 116th Street on the west side of Caramel back there. So, anything like that, I mean, we can have discussions about to to just maybe bring up to to date real world requests or standards. You can also handle that in other manage. Now would be the time to make those adjustments, I believe. Correct.

Yes.

Also, there's probably 10 years. I know we had three proposals to do animal situation and they have to show I think Mr. Hayden and Mr. Cult and Mr. Heer bring up good points. So, if you look at the last time we updated our zoning ordinances in 2015. So, you know, we've had our ordinances for the last 10 years, and I know we've added a few things to it and updated a couple of things in it, but you know, if you look back on 10 years to where things were in the cis real in the area, and how things were being developed, it's completely changed today. So, Mr. Hayden said, you know, we can certainly look at everything in the zoning book, whether it's residential, commercial, or whatever that might be, and start digging into those things. What do you like, you don't like? And just like we had the conversation a few minutes ago, Mr. Hayden's point, we certainly, you know, may want to take out some special exception things based upon what we're seeing today and potentially add some things. And the same way with permitted uses

that's in 2015 that the video store still in there. Well, I know we had one not too long ago that the boat docks were in a C1 district. That was really strange and we went through this process and that was one that we didn't include because yeah exception in here. So certainly some things to look at and think about other comments. Those are great suggestions, great comments.

Well, Dr. Reynold, can you even I mean, other than the town, a person, my understanding is not supposed to lease rent their own personal boat dock to people based on what I know about reservoir, but I could be wrong. Huh? That is correct.

Okay. friends. Just friends. Yeah.

I think the uh only other thing I had on to talk about a little bit this evening was just to make everyone aware. So, you know, the Estridge Homes development came out of the planning commission moved on to the town council with a non-recommendation from this board. So, they did present to the town council at the August 19th meeting and the town council did approve their moving forward with their development. So, I just want to make sure everyone was aware that was on the board.

So, when those like have they talked or do you know like when those getting pulled or I mean I know there's a long process and everything has to be approved no further back here doesn't

so next steps will basically they still will have to go through the subdivision control process so that's where they'll come in and actually have where their lots are l laid out all the streets and all the lights and everything else so that'll be the first step in the process And then they'll go through the construction standards which comes back to this board also. And then the there's one other step and I just want to plank on it.

Yeah. Then there'll be a TAC meeting which is where all the departments and the county departments review everything and uh as Mr. Diller said as a Duke energy representative he typically attends a tech meeting to look at it from Duke's perspective. So there's quite a few steps for them to still go through before they actually start getting their permits. But I think as Mr. Zawsky just said, they've not brought anything forward at this particular time for for us to look at. memory. when they come back. So basically our review is standard now as an opportunity to When do they close?

I don't think that we we know that and I I don't know that's something that typically typically something that gets shared with us. It's normally, you know, they close on it and then they bring forward their petitions to us after that. I would think it might be getting some of these any disc have further discussion on that.

So I read a discussion and I know that we had this discussion about if for whatever reason the time is two years they don't do anything and they don't end up at the property that property as res

reverts back to agriculture correct correct so just want that on public record so it's counted down within two years there is a time frame in that but stated that land. I just wanted on the record that it reverts back to agriculture

whatever that time duration was the other part

that's first right they might be able to start site work while they're doing the drain I don't know that there were any stipulations on site work and drainage general. I think they told us they would have to do the drainage first. That was the first step. Drain was highlighted as one of the first things they'll be doing and that was confirmed by the county.

Any further discussion on that? If not, I really don't have anything other than thank you for all for being here. I always appreciate that and I know our petitioners do. With that, we'll move on to legal council report. Mr. Cool.

The only thing I had was we expecting the acquisition of property production process very soon. already.

So for this board though, I think what Aaron's getting at or partially is building was stopped because of waste water and water. wouldn't say that do something three wells allow 300% When you build well they want to ensure that your goal increase.

No, I think it uh for the most part it would double our current capacity. But even if we get clos

the stars aligned We could potentially be at that 24 month window if that's if everything aligned. So the first time and that's still within Cicero town borders. So the wells not currently. No

direct. However, under the if we need to underwater sewer But I think, you know, it brings up a good point from the standpoint that probably in the next year or so we will have developers come forward potentially wanting to buy some property in the area and potentially development knowing that, you know, that water is going to be available at some point, you know, and it takes about a year for earth work and getting infrastructure and in everything. So sometimes, you know, they'll do about a year out from when they think things are available to them. So we could potentially see some things moving forward. And again though, I think that's the whole thing. And I know everybody's very nervous about to, you know, that it does open the floodgates. But, you know, those are decisions that'll be made by the boards to what they want to approve that makes sense in the area and, you know, whether it fits our zoning ordinances and it fits the area for development and some of those things. And, you know, I'm sure that this this board as well as town council will be selective and what they think should be here and not should be here. So, we'll have a lot of discussions. I'm sure as things move forward.

That's good. Big concern was run out of water.

Well, I don't you know, so just to clarify, I don't think we were ever going to run out of water, but we were capacity for what our current plant could produce. And so, you know, knowing that there's future needs for, you know, the residents here too, it offered, you know, a couple opportunities and I hope it's okay to speak here, but opportunities from the standpoint it prepares us for the future for potential development, but the other side of it is we know we have true well sites in the future because we have some well sites currently that are aging. you know, they've done well for us this time for gosh, I don't know, maybe a hundred years. Maybe one of them is 100 years old. I don't know for sure, but at some point that potential well might go dry. This gives us an opportunity. We have a backup well. So, there's was a lot of reasons for expanding, you know, the well field to make sure that we position for the future that the town of Cisro someday down the road did not run out of water.

Where are the currents? So the current wells, we have one that is right behind Bets's Boutique. So that is where the water plant is. So there is a well that's inside that plant. And the other ones are east of town. So if you look out basically where the cell tower is,

there's a well site there. And then if you go on out, you'll see where there's sort of a leanto type building. And then we have a well site there as well. about the way we have those invest years ago. in other development that wasn't concern but you know the town will be well positioned for the future and I think that was the ultimate goal

is what I've understood from the you know what I've heard a trump card being able to know that you've got enough. Sure. Okay. Anything else, Mr. Cole? No, that's all I have. Board member comments. Do we have any kind of 236? So, go ahead. So, the only thing I can share is is what I've seen that everybody else has seen that the target date seems to be September 22nd. Yeah. So, so I drove I rode my bike down the path

and maybe got through it other ways, but I rode my bike and it looked like the top coat was on. Um, it looked like maybe striping. I'm not I'm not a road expert, but So, I mean, it seems like it is really close. If you want to get through, you can. I rode my bike on a path. Well, I'm telling you, my son You can say that's that's what I heard that if you're careful you can get I I didn't know if anybody here is trying to go to lately

I went through the country one time and came back down 37 and z every crossro they they got a lot because they're just repaving I don't know if anybody's gorgeous. So, I think they've been working a lot more.

I would say they're close.

Are they going to do the curving the whole way? I I think I curving it up. I don't know that I know the answer to that. [Music] Oh, down at the roundabout area. Well, even there Are we in contact with them or do they have a representative that gives us updates or we just take a long date that was mentioned?

Yes. Do we have a representative that we work with or so we have quarterly meetings with the county two of the town council people do and they said I think the last one they said in September correct but that was the latest piece of information that we've heard, we've seen posted numerous places, but I always use the caveat with that. We've seen that before, so don't quote me on that. That's a definite date, but that was the latest that we've heard. Say it was very it's getting very close. And I will also say I follow

true mountain bike. Well, you could if I were if I were in shape. That's pretty much it, right? Then when you go south

Yeah, it has, hasn't it? All righty. Any other board member comments? Seeing none, our next planning commission meeting will be October the 8th. that will be here at town hall at 7 o'clock pm. And with that, I would look for a motion to adjurnn. Mr. Chairman, Dennis Trump. So move. Second. Thank you, Mr. Shrimp. Mr. Hayden. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Meeting is adjourned. Thank you, everyone.