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Holcomb considers updating zoning regulations
Published 2/9/2012 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
sahmad@gctelegram.com
HOLCOMB — Local planning officials who are working on updating Holcomb's zoning regulations heard from city commission members concerning issues about the city's commercial and residential districts.
Local planning and community development officials who met with commission members Wednesday related some concerns they said have arisen as they work on updating Holcomb's zoning regulations based on the city's most recent comprehensive plan, which the council adopted in the fall of 2009.
Planning and Community Development Director Kaleb Kentner said Wednesday that among those concerns are an excessive number of types of commercial and residential districts. Holcomb could benefit from a consolidation of its five types of commercial districts and seven types of residential districts, Kentner said.
"If you compress your zoning districts into smaller numbers, it makes them easier to manage," Kentner said.
For example, some commercial business districts designate only retail or only business offices, and a mix of those in one commercial zone could be implemented.
Also, the city has on its books designations for mobile homes or manufactured home parks, districts that the comprehensive plan identifies are not desirable as Holcomb grows in size.
All commission members present were agreeable to the idea of eliminating some districts and consolidating others.
Mayor Gary Newman spoke for the group.
"As we've seen before, having so many, it opens them up for so many interpretations. And everybody has a different view on what something means," he said. "I would be open to the recommendation."
No action was taken following the discussion.
In other business:
* The council unanimously approved two appointments to Holcomb's volunteer firefighting team, pending the successful completion of physicals and drug screenings: Hunter Carson and Sarah Trimble, both nationally certified firefighters.
Bill Knight, Holcomb's fire chief, said the appointments bring the squad up to a dozen, and his goal is to have 15.
Knight said the firefighters approved during Wednesday's council meeting are not residents.
"It seems we've exhausted our supply of Holcomb residents," he added.
The new firefighters' rate of pay is $15 per call or meeting.
* The council unanimously approved the following re-appointments to the Holcomb Board of Zoning Appeals: Sean Sheets, for a one-year term; Shelby Hanneman, for a two-year term; and Curtis Peterson, for a two-year term.
* The board held a 15-minute closed session for matters of non-elected personnel. Following the closed session, the council unanimously hired Andrew Huhta as an entry-level maintenance employee at a rate of $11.75 per hour.
Council member Jannelle Robins-Gaede was not present Wednesday.
The Holcomb City Council meets again at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the city offices, 200 N. Lynch St.
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