MOUNT VERNON — Regional Planning Commission members have approved early plans for mobile homes at the former Pacemakers Dragway and zoning changes for five townships.
Owner Larry Nelson presented a rough sketch to the land use committee last week for a mobile home development at the dragstrip.
Land Use chair Steve Bratton said Nelson will develop the property in five phases. He will start at the front and work his way around the existing main street.
“The land use committee did not have any issues with the sketch plan,” Bratton said. “We recommended to the commission to approve the sketch plan.
“I think Larry wants to be pretty transparent with everybody.”
RPC Secretary Darrel Severns said approving the sketch plan gives Nelson the go-ahead to start engineering design for stormwater, water and sewer, and layout of home pads.
Bratton said a Clinton Township trustee attended the Land Use Committee meeting, and the trustees gave their blessing for rezoning the land to RMHP (residential mobile home park).
“They seem all on board with the direction he’s headed. So we didn’t have any issues from the township as far as that went,” he said.
The next step is a preliminary plat, which shows the engineering design in detail.
“That’s when we start looking at it based on our subdivision regulations to make sure lots and blocks and street design all are in compliance with what our subdivision rules say,” Severns said.
Severns said the project involves “a good bit” of stormwater management.
County Engineer Cameron Keaton will be involved with the roadway design and the one who will ultimately sign off on the stormwater plan.
Nelson will submit the preliminary and final plats to the commission for its approval.
Bylaws Committee considers change in meeting time
In February, commission members presented a petition asking the Bylaws Committee to consider alternate meeting times.
RPC currently meets the third Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Committee chair Jason Rogers said the committee suggested having land use meet on the first Tuesday of the month and the full commission on the second Tuesday.
Previous comments centered on moving up the meeting time rather than changing the day. However, several townships meet on Thursday; no townships meet on Tuesday.
Severns will email commission members asking for feedback.
