The Bartholomew County Plan Commission will consider extending its land use planning and regulatory tools to areas where the city of Columbus is relinquishing zoning jurisdiction at a March 8 meeting. The Columbus/Bartholomew County Planning Department said proposed planning and zoning maps are expected to be posted online next week, days ahead of the meeting.
The changes were necessitated after the Columbus Plan Commission adopted amendments to its jurisdictional boundary this month, removing from its jurisdiction certain areas to the east and north of the city, including the areas in and around Otter Creek Golf Course to the east and around Taylorsville to the north.
Accordingly, the County Plan Commission will consider amendments to its comprehensive plan future land use map and its official zoning map. The Columbus jurisdictional changes are effective upon either these Bartholomew County amendments being completed or the October 2023 one-year anniversary of the city’s sale of Otter Creek Golf Course (which necessitated the jurisdiction changes), whichever occurs first.
The proposed amendments are to the county comprehensive plan’s Future Land Use Map, which guides land use by designating areas within the county’s jurisdiction as agricultural preferred, natural resource/recreation, general rural, or a development district.
The proposed amendments to the Future Land Use Map indicate the new areas of county jurisdiction in the vicinity of Otter Creek Golf Course as primarily agricultural preferred or general rural.
Otter Creek Golf Course is proposed to be designated as natural resource/recreation. The area at the intersection of 25th Street with State Roads 9 and 46 is proposed as a Development District.
In addition to the vicinity of Otter Creek, a portion of the Taylorsville area is also being excluded from the city’s jurisdiction and assumed by Bartholomew County. In this area:
- The US 31/I-65 corridor is proposed to be indicated as a development district.
- The Driftwood River floodplain is proposed as a natural resource/recreation area.
- The Oakcrest neighborhood area is to be agricultural preferred.
The official zoning map is a component of the zoning ordinance. With the comprehensive plan as a guide, the zoning ordinance establishes regulations for land use and development, typically based on identified sub-areas or “zoning districts” based on their intended primary use – such as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, etc. The official zoning map applies these zoning districts to properties in the community.
The proposed Bartholomew County zoning districts for the Otter Creek area include primarily AP (Agriculture: Preferred) and AG (Agriculture: General Rural), with P (Public & Semi-Public Facilities) zoning proposed for the Bartholomew County Highway Department facility, Clay Township Fire Station, and former Bartholomew County landfill property. Properties at the intersection of 25th Street with State Roads 9 and 46 are proposed to be zoned either CC (Commercial: Community) or I2 (Industrial: General).
In the Taylorsville area, RMH (Residential: Manufactured Home Park), RS3 (Residential: Single-Family 3), and CC (Commercial: Community) zoning is proposed along the US 31 corridor. Properties beyond that corridor are proposed for either AP (Agriculture: Preferred) or AG (Agriculture: General Rural) zoning.
While Columbus and Bartholomew County have distinct land use planning and zoning jurisdictions, they coordinate on the zoning regulations and districts through the adoption of a shared City of Columbus & Bartholomew County Zoning Ordinance. Therefore, the zoning regulations and districts that will apply following the transition of these properties from city to county jurisdiction will not be substantially different.
The notable changes will be for those properties at the 25th Street/State Road 9/46 intersection that are proposed for I2 (industrial) zoning; they are currently zoned CC (commercial) in the city’s jurisdiction.
Also of note are the County, Clay Township, and Solid Waste District properties to be zoned P (public facilities); which are currently zoned AP (agriculture) in the City’s jurisdiction.
The March 8 Bartholomew County Plan Commission meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Columbus City Hall. There will be a time for public comment.
