01/17/05 — Land-use plan on Tuesday agenda

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Land-use plan on Tuesday agenda

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on January 17, 2005 2:00 PM

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to work toward a comprehensive, countywide land-use plan.

The county Planning Board voted unanimously last week to urge the commissioners to begin work on the land-use plan.

The next step would be to hire an outside, consulting firm to begin the research and seek public input for the plan. The county budgeted $25,000 for this year to work on the plan.

Work could begin this spring, but county officials expect the process to last several months.

The land-use plan would be a guide to how the county wants to develop, officials say. It would designate areas for agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial development, and could shape how infrastucture is extended.

The plan would not be zoning, but it could lead to increased zoning, especially in high-growth areas and land along the proposed U.S. 70 bypass.

Also Tuesday, the county commissioners will receive the county's annual audit for 2003-04. Representatives of Nunn Brashear & Co. are scheduled to present the audit and make remarks on the county's financial outlook.

The commissioners also need to affirm their Jan. 4 decision to rezone Denize Odeh's property at the intersection of Collier Street and U.S. 117 North to allow her to open a convenience store.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners are scheduled to do the following:

*Renew the county's insurance for its emergency medical services system.

*Approve a resolution for "School Board Recognition Month."

*Hear a presentation about the annual "Scholastic Shootout."

*Consider a variance request for R.W. Johnson.

The commissioners will convene at 8 a.m. Tuesday for a briefing on the agenda. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room, fourth floor, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 E. Walnut St.