Two conditional use permit requests that have sparked opposition in the past will come before the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Board meeting Tuesday, March 19.
At the February zoning meeting about two dozen people voiced concerns about Havin Properties’ request for a CUP to extract and excavate sand and gravel from a Meramec River gravel bar on property located on Sullivan Bottom Road. After listening to both sides at the public hearing, the commission decided to refer the matter to its review committee.
The review committee has recommended approval of the CUP, but only for a two-year period and with certain conditions attached.
Some of the conditions listed are building, surfacing and maintenance of Sullivan Bottom Road, a lowered speed limit request to the highway department and limited hours and trucks. Havin must also agree to comply with the Department of Natural Resources Water Pollution Department and the Army Corps of Engineers requirements and provide the planning board with permits from these entities if required.
Residents had voiced concerns about safety, noise pollution, environmental hazards and damage to Sullivan Bottom and nearby roads.
Also requesting a CUP is Robert J. Dix, who wants to operate a shooting/archery range on his 210-acre property located at 4273 Highway 47 near Lonedell.
Dix came before the planning board last month to request a change to the zoning codes that would allow him to apply for a CUP in agricultural and nonurban zoning districts.
Planning and zoning voted 10-0 to approve the change and a public hearing was held at the county commissioner’s meeting Tuesday, March 12, where about eight people spoke in opposition to the matter.
Residents were mainly concerned for the safety of their families and the noise they said they would be subjected to throughout the day if a shooting range were allowed.
Although commissioners took the matter under advisement and didn’t submit a vote, a public hearing on the request will still be conducted at the Tuesday planning and zoning meeting.
Also being brought back before the board is a recommendation from the review committee to revoke a CUP the board granted to Don King in 2011, unless he submits an acceptable plan for a sight-proof fence that would hide construction material and equipment that is stored on his property at 150 Whispering Pines.
The board had earlier granted King permission to plant evergreen trees, in lieu of a traditional fence, along a berm surrounding his property, but King told the board last month the trees he planted last year died because of drought conditions.
The review committee stated in its recommendation that if the board denies revocation of the CUP, it would then recommend King be required to build a traditional fence.
The board stated that King was granted several opportunities to comply with all conditions, the most recent being another 30-day extension granted at the February planning board meeting.
Under new business:
Andy and Kische Ernst are requesting a CUP to operate a kennel in an existing building on their property located at 926 Kelly Lane, approximately two-tenths of a mile east of Orchard Road in Lyon Township.
The Studio Inn at St. Albans also is requesting a CUP to host a special periodic event at the property located at 454 Studio Road, approximately five-tenths of a mile southwest of St. Albans Road in Boles Township.
