The Village of Richwood Council voted 4-2 to accept the modified agricultural use regulations on Monday, failing to meet the required supermajority to approve or deny a proposed ordinance.
Council members Pat Morse and Donnie Ridgeway dissented. Specific zoning ordinance changes require a supermajority vote with five out of six members in favor or in dissent.
The council may act on the proposed ordinance until Aug. 10, which is 30 days after the planning commission voted to send it to council.
Currently, the zoning ordinance allows farm animals within the village limits. If the council does vote again and the proposed legislation passes, it would prohibit all large animals within the village. Chickens and rabbits would be permitted on properties at least one-third an acre.
Residents addressed the council at a public hearing Monday evening with concerns about how the proposed animal and poultry unit restrictions would impact 4-H projects for the Richwood Independent Fair. They said 4-H participants need at least four rabbits to have a market pen of three rabbits.
The council discussed modifying the proposed ordinance to state “animal and bird units for properties over one-third of an acre may be increased by up to two additional units on a temporary basis for educational purposes.”
Additionally, council clarified that the fairgrounds would be excluded from any of the agricultural use regulations. The modified ordinance read, “This ordinance shall not apply to non-commercial or commercial recreational uses occurring on properties other than single family or multi-family dwellings.”
During the public hearing before the regular meeting on Monday, resident Chris Davis approached the council, saying “This is a farming community, yes, but it doesn’t mean it’s a farming village.”
As for grandfathering in properties with existing animals, Davis said she only supported Rusty Fry’s property on North Franklin Street.
“His family has had sheep or goats, whatever, on and off since the day of dawn,” she said. “They butt up against our property and never had a problem. No smell. No noise.”
Resident Dirk Detillion, who raises cows on his property on North Franklin Street, argued that “if livestock weren’t permitted in town the ordinance should have been changed before our family moved” within the village.
He also asked if the council has thought about putting the livestock regulations on the ballot.
“That’s not the proper legal mechanism to make those changes,” Village Solicitor Julie Spain replied. “The proper legal mechanism is to do what we’re doing here tonight.”
Detillion questioned where the stipulations for no large animals within the village came from, asking if it was council’s opinion or what constituents wanted.
“A few years before you came here, there was no livestock allowed in the village. We decided to change it to try it, and we were hoping people would use common sense and so far that hasn’t worked,” Mayor Scott Jerew said.
He added that the council is trying to do “what is best for the village” with the goal to grow the village in the coming years. Ridgeway and Jerew are concerned residents will move out of the village because of the farm animals.
Council member Reddy Brown agreed that there has been an influx of large agricultural animals since the ordinance was changed, including cows and pigs. He explained that the planning commission has brought the proposed ordinance to the council to offer a compromise by allowing small animals and grandfathering in properties with existing animals for “self-sustainability.”
Morse argued that the lots in Richwood are too close for livestock to be raised within the village.
“There’s a thousand acres that surround this town,” he said. “That’s farm community. That’s where the hogs should be. That’s where the cows should be.”
In other news:
-The council approved the new zoning map.
-The council approved the final reading to grant the request to vacate the right of way at the corner of Blagrove and Clinton streets for the Richwood Banking Company.
-The council approved Jerew entering into an agreement with DWA Recreation, an Ohio-based company, to construct the splash pad at Richwood Lake Park. The company quoted $146,280 for the project subject to change with the impact of inflation on parts. The village has been allocated $150,000 from the 2022 state capital budget for the project.
-The council tabled a discussion to regulate the discarding of grass clippings and leaves within the village until Village Administrator and Police Chief Monte Asher is present.
-Morse reminded residents to vote in the primary on Aug. 2.
-Responding to a concerned resident, council said when it has the funding, it’s priority is to address drainage issues on the west side of town.
-Following a field review, it has been determined that the Route 47 walking path will be 5 feet wide, instead of 10 feet. It will still be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and EPA approved, Jerew said.
-The Richwood Police Department has hired a part-time officer, who will be sworn in this week.
-Lt. Jim Hill of the Richwood Police Department recently attended the Solar Eclipse Working group for the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Union County officials are preparing for traffic as hundreds of visitors are expected to come to the area to view the solar eclipse.
The next regular meeting is Monday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 153 N. Franklin St.