The jurisdictional area of the county is divided into the following zoning districts for purposes as stated below.
(A) AG, Agricultural District.
(1) (a) The purpose of this district is to recognize agriculture as the predominant use of land in the county and to ensure the continued viability of this resource.
(b) Adverse effects and incompatibilities between agricultural and non-farm uses will be discouraged, and public sewage and water facilities will not be provided.
(2) Density should not exceed one dwelling unit per acre. Higher density development will be considered only as a planned residential development and/or as per the modification procedure of the Subdivision Control Ordinance.
(B) RR, Rural Residential. The purpose of this district is to provided low-density residential areas which includes most of the small communities in the county which are not of sufficient density or area to warrant central sewage facilities now or in the future. Density should not exceed one dwelling unit per 40,000 square feet.
(C) R-1, Suburban Residential District. The purpose of this district is to encompass those residential areas adjacent to the incorporated towns and Logansport at a density sufficient enough where central sewage can be provided immediately or in the future. Density should not exceed one dwelling unit per 24,000 square feet.
(D) B-1, Convenience Business District. The purpose of this district is to provide convenience business and service uses in community areas.
(E) B-4, General Business District. The purpose of this district is to provide areas for general business uses to meet the needs of a regional market and the traveling public. General business districts should be located on collectors or arterials highways as specified by the Comprehensive Plan.
(F) AB, Agribusiness District. The purpose of this district is to encourage expansion of business and manufacturing support uses for the local agricultural community in proper locations.
(G) I-1, Light Industrial District. The purpose of the light industrial district is to encourage the development and expansion of manufacturing and wholesale business establishments which are clean, quiet and free of hazardous or objectionable elements, operate entirely within enclosed structures and generate little industrial traffic.
(H) I-2, General Industrial District. The purpose of this district is provided to encourage the development and expansion of major industrial operations which utilize both enclosed and unenclosed space for storage, fabricating, and manufacturing.
(I) FW, Floodway Overlay District. The purpose of this district is to restrict development within that portion of the floodplain which has been delineated by the Federal Insurance Administration as being required to carry the principal thrust and flow of floodwaters.
(J) FF, Floodway Fringe Overlay District. The purpose of this district is to place additional restrictions upon uses permitted in underlying districts which are located within that area of the floodplain delineated by the Federal Insurance Administration as the floodway fringe.
(K) AO, Airport Overlay District. The purpose of this district is to guide development in certain areas which are adjacent to airports that could be particularly hazardous if development standards were not imposed. This will minimize the possibility of accidents causing hardship on individual property owners and the general public.
(L) R-5, Planned Residential Overlay District.
(1) The purpose of this district is to define properties which, because their location and surrounding development, are recommended and best suited to be developed as planned developments, provided for under § 155.052.
(2) Such development is not mandatory, but rather a desired or suggested method of development to ensure that new development in these areas is compatible with existing and proposed uses on adjacent properties.
(M) RP, Riverfront Protection Overlay District. The purpose of this district is intended to protect from undesirable development all lands within 100 feet of the top of the bank of the Wabash and Eel Rivers.
(Prior Code, § 153.026)
(N) Underground and Buried Utilities District. The county hereby establishes an Underground and Buried Utilities District (“Area”) to be in effect April 28, 2017, and to apply throughout the county’s ROW and granted utility easements.
(1) Underground and Buried Utilities District is hereinafter defined as follows:
(a) In all areas of the county where no overhead or above-ground utilities, utility facilities, overheard lines, or associated overhead structures used, or useful, in supplying electric, communication, or similar and associated services currently exist;
(b) In all areas of the county where planned road projects, redevelopment areas and/or economic development areas provide for and require underground buried utilities and utility facilities, including, but not limited to: electric; communication; or similar and associated services;
(c) All other areas of ROW, proposed ROW, or newly adopted ROW throughout the county, or in utility easement granted by the county, whether or not above-ground utilities, or utility facilities, currently exist; and
(d) Notwithstanding divisions (N)(1)(a) through (N)(1)(c) above, any utility that requires construction, placement, or use of a small cell facility in an area designated strictly for underground or buries utilities, may submit an application to the Board of County Commissioners requesting a waiver to install new utility poles or new wireless support structures within the “Area.”
(2) (a) From and after the effective date of this division (N), no person, corporation, or utility shall erect or construct within the county’s ROW or granted utility easement, any pole, overhead line, or associated overhead structure used, or useful, in supplying electric, communication, or similar associated services; a person, corporation, or utility may submit an application to the Board of County Commissioners requesting a waiver to install new utility poles or support structures within the “Area.”
(b) However, a person, corporation, or utility that is currently providing utility services, installed as the date of this division (N), shall be permitted to continue to repair and maintain utility structures and facilities in the ROW.
(3) Unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Board of County Commissioners, all utilities located within the county’s ROW or granted utility easement shall be placed underground and/or buried.
(4) All existing overhead poles, wires, and/or utility transmission lines may remain within the county’s ROW or utility easement, but may not be replaced or relocated without prior written authorization of the Board of County Commissioners. However, a person, corporation or utility that is currently providing utility services, installed as the date of this division (N), shall be permitted to continue to repair and maintain utility structures and facilities in the ROW.
(5) If any portion of this section is for any reason declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section so long as enforcement of same can be given same effect.
(Prior Code § 153.026) (Ord. 93-02, passed 2-1-1993; Res. 2017-02, passed 4-28-2017)