July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Update given to BZA
The Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals received an update during its first meeting of 2009 Thursday night.
The board, which hasn't met since December, received a new copy of the county's ordinance with changes approved in recent weeks by Jay County Commissioners.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director Bill Milligan highlighted a few changes in the ordinance for board members, including new regulations regarding discussion of BZA business outside of meetings.
New wording was inserted into the ordinance stating that board members are not to discuss appeals or variances with interested parties outside of a public meeting. The additions reflect state regulations on the topic.
"If any involved party would come to you to try to influence you, that's a no-no according to the state code," Milligan said. "What they're trying to do is protect the BZA members from being harassed."
Milligan also noted the addition of Pennville to the zoning ordinance along with its confined feeding restriction allowing no new operations within one mile of the town limits.
Also mentioned were the increased setbacks on lagoons from flood plains, which the commissioners pushed through in less than a month. The commissioners responded to concerns of county residents that large lagoons so close to flood-prone areas could be disastrous for county waterways.
"(The Indiana Department of Natural Resources) was more than happy to have us do that because they're in charge of clean water," Milligan said.
Board chairman Dennis Rodgers asked how the board would reference the flood plains, and Milligan told him the county is still using maps from 1975 since the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not ratified more current maps.
"We're still fighting for a new flood plain map," Milligan said, since development and improved technology have definitely altered flood zones in the county.
"It's disgusting," he said later on being stuck with such outdated maps. "It really is."
In other business Thursday, the board of zoning appeals:
•Retained officers from 2008: Rodgers, chairman; Carl Walker, vice-chairman; Stephen Fennig, secretary; Patti McLaughlin, recording secretary; and the law office of Hinkle, Racster and Lopez, board attorney.[[In-content Ad]]
The board, which hasn't met since December, received a new copy of the county's ordinance with changes approved in recent weeks by Jay County Commissioners.
Jay/Portland Building and Planning director Bill Milligan highlighted a few changes in the ordinance for board members, including new regulations regarding discussion of BZA business outside of meetings.
New wording was inserted into the ordinance stating that board members are not to discuss appeals or variances with interested parties outside of a public meeting. The additions reflect state regulations on the topic.
"If any involved party would come to you to try to influence you, that's a no-no according to the state code," Milligan said. "What they're trying to do is protect the BZA members from being harassed."
Milligan also noted the addition of Pennville to the zoning ordinance along with its confined feeding restriction allowing no new operations within one mile of the town limits.
Also mentioned were the increased setbacks on lagoons from flood plains, which the commissioners pushed through in less than a month. The commissioners responded to concerns of county residents that large lagoons so close to flood-prone areas could be disastrous for county waterways.
"(The Indiana Department of Natural Resources) was more than happy to have us do that because they're in charge of clean water," Milligan said.
Board chairman Dennis Rodgers asked how the board would reference the flood plains, and Milligan told him the county is still using maps from 1975 since the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not ratified more current maps.
"We're still fighting for a new flood plain map," Milligan said, since development and improved technology have definitely altered flood zones in the county.
"It's disgusting," he said later on being stuck with such outdated maps. "It really is."
In other business Thursday, the board of zoning appeals:
•Retained officers from 2008: Rodgers, chairman; Carl Walker, vice-chairman; Stephen Fennig, secretary; Patti McLaughlin, recording secretary; and the law office of Hinkle, Racster and Lopez, board attorney.[[In-content Ad]]
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