Planning Commission hears 11 agenda items
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

The Ripley County Area Planning Commission had a long agenda to cover at their March meeting - 11 items were covered. Seven items were for primary approval of subdivisions.

Six of the subdivisions were approved. One will be heard again next month because members could not agree on a decision. Terry and Donna Richmond applied for a two-lot division of property they own on 8889 N. County Rd. 550 E in Sunman. The controversy was over the building of an 18' road. The vote was five to four to deny the subdivision. With two members absent and Jeff French abstaining, that was not a majority vote.

The following subdivisions were approved:

· Robert Pierson Jr. and Luke Pierson, Eastfield Subdivision, 18-lots on 10.0981 acres on Merkel Road in Batesville;

· Enhanced Telecommunications Corp., Sunman Trade Subdivision, 2-lots on 0.8998 acre at 200 Meridian Street in Sunman;

· George Ammerman, Ammerman Subdivision, 2-lots on 4.19 acres at 7627 E. State Road 46 in Batesville;

· Class Act Development Group Inc., Indian Pointe Subdivision Phase II, 34-lots on 22.349 acres south of Mill Road in Milan;

· J.R.M. Development, Woolery Street Subdivision, 5-lots on 7.7668 acres, an extension of Woolery Street in Milan; and

· Scott Neal, Neal-Weir Subdivision, four lots on 22.3668 acres at 1268 W. County Road 150 N. in Osgood.

Larry Decker requested a rezone from the Agricultural-2 District to the Roadside Business District for the purpose of putting up mini-warehouses at 8649 E. State Road 46 in Sunman. The request was sent to the Ripley County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation.

Planning Director Tad Brinson presented the February report. There were 24 Improvement Location Permits issued, 8 plats approved, 2 variances, 3 special exceptions, a rezone and 5 subdivisions granted. Deposit refunds to the County General Fund amounted to $10,300.

Ten of twelve members of the Planning Commission were present: Kaye Hunger, Maureen Sheets, Covell Mills, Robert Gray, Gary Norman, James Negangard, Steve Youngman, Roger Lang, Jeff French, and Dave Osborne. Executive Director Tad Brinson and Attorney John Ertel were present to advise the board. The next meeting of the Ripley County Planning Commission will be held on Tuesday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Commissioners' Room at the Courthouse Annex in Versailles.