Cathy May, Contributing Writer

The Ripley County Area Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation at their June 3 meeting to a father and son, who plan on bringing some new businesses to Ripley County.

Levi Beiler asked to have five acres rezoned from Agriculture-2 to Roadside Business at 5123 W. County Rd. 550 S, Holton. The property is located near New Marion. Beiler plans to put up a hardware store and lumber yard at the site. The commission granted a rezone of only three acres saying five were too many to rezone for what Beiler wants to do.

His son, Elam Beiler, asked for a rezone of the Agriculture-1 District to Roadside Business at 4918 W. County Rd. 550 S, Holton. He wants to use the land for a welding shop and to do hydraulic repair. The full five acres was approved because there is a buried house on the land, which affected its usage. Both applications now go to the Ripley County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation.

Fred Crum was granted permission for a vacate and re-plat of Lot #2 in the Schroder Subdivision. There are two lots on 1.9930 acres in the Residential-1 District. The property is located at 1011 Columbia Avenue in Osgood. This request was made in order to correct a legal description error. Crum was granted primary approval.

The only other agenda item was for a vacate and re-plat of Lot #10 in Bischoff Lake Subdivision into M.A. Gunter two-lot subdivision at approximately 3688 and 3690 E. Lakeside Drive in Batesville. The item was tabled because of incorrect legal wording on the plat.

Ten of the 12 planning commission members were present. Attorney John Ertel and Planning Commissioner Director Tad Brinson were present to advise the commission. The next regular meeting of the Ripley County Area Planning Commission will be July 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the commissioners’ room in the Ripley County Courthouse annex.