Zoning commission asks Northmorrow Farms to start over

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

By Rachel Mendell

The Morrow County Zoning Commission approved the official reply to Northmorrow Farms, LLC, written by the county prosecutor in regard to its rezoning request. After the public hearing of June 28 the zoning commission denied Northmorrow's request to rezone the properties near Northmor Schools on County Road 59 as a business (C-1) for the purpose of building a restaurant and other businesses of service. Because of the problems of two non-adjoining parcels being zoned at the same time and issues with the notification of neighbors, the original request was considered nullified and the process will begin again.

Northmorrow will re-file its request, neighbors will again be notified, a public hearing will be scheduled and publicized. Northmor-row will only pay for cost of publication.

Member Virgil Staley brought up the issue of dwindling finances. Looking over the last few years, the bottom line of the zoning office finances has been shrinking with ballpark figures of 2007 – $110,000, 2008 – $74,000, 2009 – $40,000 and the present cash balance of $27,820. Some new expenses mentioned by board members that have surfaced during the past few years have been the new development office, more funds toward regional planning committee and the new cost allocation payment.

Staley said he is afraid that if use of the zoning funds does not change, there may be no zoning commission by the end of 2011. Zoning board members will be meeting with county commissioners to discuss the problem.

Hours reported for the month of July were 49.5 for staff member Marianne Teacher and 69 hours for zoning inspector Steve Hart. The next regular meeting of the Morrow County Zoning Commission will be Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information go to www.morrowcounty.info.