MOUNT VERNON — On behalf of the Regional Planning Commission, Richard Stallard presented the RPC’s Land Use Committee Report to the Knox County Commissioners on Monday afternoon. The committee report identified a number of inconsistencies in the Land Subdivision Regulations for Knox County, and suggested corrections for them.
According to Stallard, Section 5.5 C of the SubRegs states, “Every lot in a subdivision shall abut on a public street for at least 50 feet.” In light of advice from Attorney Harry Welsh, Stallard said the regulation should be revised to say, “Every lot in a subdivision shall abut on a public or private street for at least 50 feet. All streets whether public or private shall be constructed in accordance with the standards set forth in these regulations.”
As the regulations contain no definition of “frontage,” the committee proposes a definition be included, stating: “Street of Road Frontage means the width of a lot or parcel of land measured between the side lot lines and along a line where the lot or parcel of land abuts a public or private street or road right of way.”
Further discussion by the committee discovered two differing definitions of what a street is, both of which are proposed to be replaced with the following: “‘Street’ means a public or private right of way designed for the purpose of moving persons and goods or for the provision of access to property. “Street” includes roads, highways, avenues, lanes, courts, pikes, cul-de-sacs, and every other name or designation, which is used to describe a street as defined above. Public recreation trails shall not be considered public or private streets or roads for any purpose under these regulations.”
To agree with Section 4.5.2 I, the committee proposes that Section 4.5.6 be revised to read: “The final plat shall be recorded within six months of final approval by the Commission; otherwise, it will be considered void.”
The committee also reported the storm water management and sediment control regulations contained a definition which should be amended thusly: “Agricultural Building Facility means any structure or impervious area constructed for agricultural purposes, to include pole barns, grain bins, machinery sheds or any other structure which is exempt from the state building code under R.C. 3781.06 (B) (1).”
Stallard said the committee also reported that because the Knox Soil & Water Conservation District and RPC collaborate to administer the provisions of the sediment pollution and water runoff control regulations, as well as the storm water management and sediment control regulations, Chapters 1 through 6 be amended to refer to both until the two appendices can be reorganized as one.
The committee will request authorization from the planning commission to hold a public hearing on March 12 on the possible amendments to the subdivision regulations.
In other business, the commissioners met with OSU Extension Director John Barker, horticulture educator Troy Cooper and 4-H Youth Development coordinator Andrea Daubenmier to review recycling education activities. OSU Extension performs these activities for the county under a three-year grant from the Delaware, Knox, Marion and Morrow Solid Waste District.
Daubenmier presented a report which showed that Extension reached 1,345 Knox County students in grades kindergarten through five, traditional and home schooled, by holding 81 events in 2008. The sessions were presentations taken onsite to the schools, and ranged from 30 minutes to an hour. She also showed the educational packet sent to the schools to alert them of the programs available.
Much of the educational material is also available via the Extension’s Web site, which has been noticed by other locales.
“We’ve gotten requests from other states about our programs,” Cooper said.
Barker asked if the commissioners would like to continue the program in 2009, and if so, were there any changes they would like incorporated.
The commissioners said they would like to extend the program another year, and are happy with the work Extension was doing to educate students about recycling.