Monday morning the Marshall County Commissioners conducted a public hearing on the request to rezone a property in Burr Oak. The property sits behind Republic Services on State Road 13 and sits on the south side of the railroad tracks. Currently zoned A-1, the owner, George Hopple requested to change the zoning to I-2, heavy industrial.
County Plan Director Ty Adley presented the commissioners with photos of the property showing piles of tires, shingles, concrete and yard waste. He said Hopple requested the rezoning so he could move his recycling business from Tamarack Road in the Culver zoning district, where he is in violation to the county property.
During the public hearing, Adley told the commissioners the TRC (technical review committee) and the County Plan Commission recommended denial due to the fact that the rezoning request doesn’t fit with the comprehensive plan and the I-1 zoning offers a much more intensive use than what Hopple was proposing.
The recommendation of the planning staff, TRC and Plan Commission was to have Hopple apply for a Special Use Variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. The variance would allow the county to place more conditions on the parcel.
Mr. Hopple attended the meeting and admitted he had been dragging his feet on the violation in the Culver zoning district and that he did not understand what Adley was recommending for him. He agreed that the variance would be the way to proceed.
The commissioners unanimously approved denial of the zoning request.
