The Carroll City Council finalized a zoning ordinance amendment during last night’s (Monday) meeting that will allow ag-related businesses to operate in the two-mile zoning district surrounding the community. For months, city officials have been working with Collin and Dick Wernimont to find a solution to a zoning issue that prevented the construction of an approximately 15,000-square-foot welding shop on their property northeast of town. Construction of such a facility would have been prohibited under the previous zoning code, but the amendment adds a Rural Business Enterprise provision that allows it so long as they receive a special-use permit, the business employs no more than 15 people, and it meets several other criteria. Officials have mostly supported the change, indicating the city wants to support young entrepreneurs, but At-Large Councilman LaVern Dirkx says he is concerned it could bring the city legal trouble in the future.
City Manager Aaron Kooiker says the city could find itself in court for almost anything if a resident opposes a decision enough, but he believes the ordinance would be easily defendable if such a situation arose.
Kooiker and City Attorney Dave Bruner say those property owners would need to bring their plans to the city council before they could begin determining the possibility of such projects. Mayor Mark Beardmore says the three examples Dirkx mentioned do not appear to be an apples-to-apples comparison to the Wernimont request.
Following that discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve the second reading of the zoning ordinance amendment, waive the third reading, and adopt the amendment. The Wernimonts still need to be approved for the special-use permit, and a hearing for that application is scheduled for a May 1 board of adjustment meeting. Video from Monday’s council meeting is included below.
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