Cole County puts zoning issue on August ballot

A copy of proposed zoning regulations for Cole County is available within the article below, or via the Planning Department tab at www.colecounty.org/pw/
A copy of proposed zoning regulations for Cole County is available within the article below, or via the Planning Department tab at www.colecounty.org/pw/

Cole County voters will be asked in August if zoning should be mandated countywide.

The County Commission placed the issue on the Aug. 5 ballot on Friday.

If voters approve the zoning issue, county officials said the zoning plan and map would have to be finalized and ratified by the county planning and zoning committee. The plan would then go to the County Commission, which would have to hold hearings in all the townships before taking a final vote to adopt the plan.

A public meeting to talk about the proposed zoning plan is scheduled for June 9 at the Cole County Emergency Management classroom on Southridge Drive. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

A copy of the zoning plan and map is available on the county 's website, www.colecounty.org. It's on the public works page under the planning tab.

Under the county's zoning plan, there are nine zoning districts. The districts are:

• Agriculture, which makes up the majority of the county. The minimum lot area for agriculture is five acres.

• Neighborhood commercial

• Residential single family

• Residential multi-family

• General commercial urban

• General commercial rural

• Light industrial

• Heavy industrial

• Planned development