Amendment to subdivision code approved
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

The Ripley County Planning Commission approved a new amendment to the Ripley County Area Subdivision Control Code. The code will now state that a subdivision lot must have both a primary and secondary septic site when any new lot is created. It also requires there to be a secondary site when there is a remainder lot, such as when a one-lot agricultural subdivision is created. The amendment was approved unanimously and will now go to the County Commissioners for approval.

The Planning Commission also heard eight requests for subdivision approval. Two were for regular subdivisions and six for agricultural subdivisions.

Sieg and Associates application was for a four-lot subdivision called 850 Estates. It is on 21.08 acres on 850 E. near Negangards Corner. Eugene Gunter applied for an eight-lot subdivision named Woodland Trace on 15.1990 acres off Delaware Road between 1300 and 1400 N. Both received primary approval.

The six agricultural subdivisions were: Tim and Imogene Steinfort's one-lot agricultural subdivision on 6.145 acres on County Road 100 W, north of 1200 N. JDJ Surveying and Engineering LLC's application was for three-lots on 28.596 acres on County Road 1300 N. in the Penntown area. It is owned by Thomas and Marguerite Middendorf.

Andrew Shane's application is for one-lot on 3.2930 acres on Delaware Road, south of 1100 N. John McKittrick requested two primary approvals for Clay Ridge One - a three-lot agricultural subdivision on 20.2766 acres off County Road 475 E. and Clay Ridge Two - a two-lot agricultural subdivision on 15.1716 acres off County Road 300 S.

Randell and Phyllis Broughton applied for approval of a one-lot agricultural subdivision containing 4.8095 acres on Old Milan Road between 100 and 350. All six requests received primary approval. Each applicant still must receive secondary approval before proceeding.

Ten of the twelve members of the
Planning Commission were present: Sam Row, Kaye Hunger, Roger Lang, Bob Gray, Henry Nickell, James Negangard, Covell Mills, Jeff French, Dave Osborne, and Steve Youngman. Executive Director Tad Brinson, and Attorney John Ertel were present to advise the commission.

The next meeting of the Ripley County Area Planning Commission will be Tuesday, October 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ripley County Courthouse Annex in Versailles.