Blog

FOR THE RECORD

February 12, 2025 | The Paper of Montgomery County |

For The Record is a public service and regular feature in The Paper of Montgomery County. It is designed to tell you what is scheduled to happen and what actually does happen in meetings paid for with your tax dollars. The Paper encourages all citizens to take an active role in being involved in local government.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLAN COMMISSION

AGENDA

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2025 1:00 PM

MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER COMMUNITY ROOM

1580 CONSTITUTION ROW

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN 47933

  1. Call to Order
  2. Oath of Office
  3. Approval of January 8, 2025 meeting minutes
  4. Agenda Modifications
  5. New Business:
  1. DPR2025-1- Public Hearing – Plevna development plan.
  2. DPR2025-2- Public Hearing – Beaver Lake Cabins development plan.
  3. Old Business:
  4. SD2025-1 – Public Hearing Continuance – Stockton Preliminary Plat.
  5. Other Business
  6. Adjournment

Agenda subject to change*

Montgomery County acknowledges its responsibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  In order to assist individuals with disabilities who require special services (i.e. sign interpretive services, alternative audio/visual devices, and amanuenses) for participation in or access to County sponsored public programs, services, and/or meetings, the County requests that individuals makes requests for these services forty-eight (48) hours ahead of the scheduled program, service, and/or meeting.  To make arrangements, contact ADA/Title VI Coordinator Lori Dossett @ 765-361-2623.

*Next regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday March 12, 2025

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLAN COMMISSION

Minutes

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025

The Montgomery County Plan Commission met on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.  Those members present were Tom McClamroch, Steve Canfield, Tom Cummins, Jake Bolander and Tricia Herr.  Staff members present were Dan Taylor and Marc Bonwell.

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM.  Sondra Sixberry, Montgomery County Clerk, administered the oath to the Plan Commission members. 

Election of Officers for the 2025 year took place.  Steve Canfield made a motion to nominate Jacob Bolander as President.  Tom McClamroch seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.  Jacob Bolander made a motion to nominate Steve Canfield Vice-President.  The motion was seconded by Tricia Herr.  Motion carried 5-0.  Marc Bonwell will remain secretary.

Bobcat Drainage:

Steve Loy made a motion to approve the Bobcat Drainage plans.  Tom McClamroch seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

SD2025-1:  Preliminary Plat approval requested by Seth Stockton for Stockton Subdivision.

Marc Bonwell introduced the request.  The property location is the 4400 block of 450 S.  The property parcel number is 54-11-28-100-006.009-025.  The petitioner is requesting Preliminary Plat approval.  The one lot subdivision plat is in an area that was split under different subdivision rules.  At the time of parcelization by Ratcliff Inc the SCO allowed three splits of a parcel before engaging platting requirements.  The parcel is non-conforming to the current standards of the SCO, which was edited in 2020.  The entrance of ingress is a private lane, which was previously allowed.  The current standard of the SCO required all subdivision roads to be built to County standard and turned over to the County after completion.  The lot has the minimum of one acre in size and would have on-site septic and well.

The preliminary plat does not meet all standards of the SCO.  The entry is required to be a minimum of 40’ and the entry is not designed meet the street standards of the SCO.  The applicant could ask for a waiver of these requirements.  The plat meets the Preliminary Plat requirements in 152.35.  The request complies with the Design Standards of 152.35-56.  The subdivision conforms to the Comprehensive Plan of Montgomery County. 

Based on the above findings, the staff recommends one of the following:

1) Require the Petitioner to submit a waiver request from the entry requirements of the SCO and table the requested Preliminary Plat until the waiver request is received.

2) Require the petitioner to obtain property to meet the 40’ wide access from 450 S to the property proposed and build the entry to County spec. This would require acquisition of the adjacent property.

3) Deny the Preliminary Plat since it does not meet the current standards of the SCO.

The Public Hearing was opened at 1:13 PM.  John Capper, representing John Like, stated that the waiver was not applied for and doesn’t meet the SLO streets standards.

There being no further input, the Public Hearing was closed at 1:18 PM.  Jake Bolander asked if they should continue the hearing so that the waivers can be applied for.  Seth Stockton stated that he would like a continuance.  Tricia Herr made a motion to continue the request to the February 12th meeting.  Stave Canfield seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

RZ2025-1:  Re-zone of Commercial zoned property to Residential by Petitioners Jim and Christina Deer.

The rezone request is regarding property located on SR 32 and the intersection of 400 E.  The parcel is .5 acres with an existing building that was previously used as a car sales lot.  The Petitioner wishes to remodel the existing building for the change of occupancy to a single-family dwelling which requires a rezone to R-1.  The property is served by MCRSD for sanitary waste and with the change of occupancy the owner will be required to connect to the existing sewer.  The site has a private well.  Access to the property is from SR 32 and is more than adequate for the requested occupancy change and has an existing 911 address. 

The Staff recommends the Board send a favorable recommendation to the County Commissioners with only one condition.  The petitioner would be required to secure a remodel permit from Montgomery County and provide MCRSD verification of connection to the sanitary sewer. 

The Public Hearing was opened at 1:31 PM and closed at 1:31 PM due to no public input.

Tricia Herr made a motion to approve a favorable recommendation with the condition that a remodel permit and connection to the sanitary sewer be secured.  The motion was seconded by Tom Cummins.  Motion carried 5-0.

ZA2025-1: Text amendment.

The Public Hearing was opened at 1:35 PM.  Due to no comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 1:35 PM.  Tricia Herr made a motion to approve the text amendment.  Steve Canfield seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0. 

SD2025-2:  Miller Concept Plat.

Tricia Herr made a motion to approve the Concept Plat.  The motion was seconded by Steve Canfield.  Motion carried 5-0.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

AGENDA

WEDNESDAY February 12, 2025, 11:00 AM

1580 CONSTITUTION ROW

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN 47933

  1. CALL TO ORDER
  2. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 8, 2025  MEETING MINUTES
  3. NEW BUSINESS:
  1. ZV2502 – Zoning Variance Public Hearing, Wheeler.
  2. ZV2503 –  Zoning Variance Public Hearing, TK Constructors.
  3. ZV2506 – Zoning Variance Public Hearing, Ratcliff INC.
  4. OTHER BUSINESS
  5. ADJOURNMENT

Agenda subject to change*

Montgomery County acknowledges its responsibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  In order to assist individuals with disabilities who require special services (i.e. sign interpretive services, alternative audio/visual devices, and amanuenses) for participation in or access to County sponsored public programs, services, and/or meetings, the County requests that individuals makes requests for these services forty-eight (48) hours ahead of the scheduled program, service, and/or meeting.  To make arrangements, contact ADA/Title VI Coordinator Lori Dossett @ 765-361-2623.

Next regularly scheduled meeting March 12, 2025

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

MINUTES

January 8, 2025

The Montgomery County Board of Zoning Appeals met on Wednesday January 8 2025.  Board members present were Steve Canfield, Seth Howell, John Hedrick, Jason Ramsey and Tom McClamroch.  Staff members present were Marc Bonwell and Dan Taylor.

The meeting was called to order at 11:00 AM.  Montgomery County Clerk, Sondra Sixberry, gave the Oath of Office to the Board members.

John Hedrick made a motion to approve the December 2024 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Jason Ramsey.  Motion carried 5-0.

Nomination of Officers:  John Hedrick made a motion to retain Steve Canfield as Chairman and Seth Howell as Vice-Chairman.  Tom McClamroch seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.  Marc Bonwell will remain Secretary.

ZV2501:  Public Hearing of Variance from Development Standards, Joyce Dr.

Marc Bonwell introduced the variance request.  The Petitioner, Ratcliff Inc., is requesting a variance from 2.11 Lot and Yard requirements of 1 acre for a residentially zoned property.  The lot located on Joyce Dr is .80 of an acre.  The Petitioner wishes to build a single-family dwelling.  The Petitioner has consulted with Don Orr regarding a septic on the site and the County has reviewed the property for storm water compliance.  The access to the property is on to Joyce Dr which is a County maintained hot mix asphalt street with a 50’ right-of-way.

The Staff recommends approval of the variance request with the following conditions:

1) Petitioner is required to secure septic, right-of-way and building permits for the planned improvement.

2) The maximum impervious surface allowed on the lot is 3,500 square feet total including driveway.

Molly with Ratcliff Inc explained the proposed home would be a 3 bed/2 bath at the size of 2100 square feet. 

The Public Hearing was opened at 11:07 AM.  James Howard had concerns with the water supply issues according to adjacent owners.  Kathy McKinney asked what type of home will be built on the property.  Molly, Ratcliff Inc., presented the blueprints which is called The Tulip.  There being no more public input, the Public Hearing was closed at 11:12 AM. 

Tom McClamroch made a motion to approve the request with the house being no bigger than 2,100 square feet.  Jason Ramsey seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

After a brief training session lead by Dan Taylor and there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:09 AM.

DRAINAGE BOARD AGENDA

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 at 9:30 am

Montgomery County Government Center, Community Meeting Room

1580 Constitution Row, Crawfordsville, IN 47933

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

• January 8th, 2024 – Regular meeting

IV. HEARINGS

• SAMUEL HUMPHREY #526 – Assessment hearing

• FRED WHITE #609 – Assessment hearing

• JAMES SERVIES #703 – Assessment hearing

V. PETITIONS

• THOMAS CLARK #619 – Petition to Vacate

• CLAUDE MOODY #583 – Petition to Attach; Jeff Messer, 5597 E. US 136

VI. OLD BUSINESS

• JOHN MCLAUGHLIN #097 – Joint Board appointment

VII. NEW BUSINESS

• 2025 OFF List

• Assessment rate reductions

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT

X. ADJOURNMENT

Next regular meeting: Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, at 9:30 am; Montgomery County Government Center