Zoning, ordinances enacted for a reason
Kokomo Tribune | September 24, 2013 | kokomotribune.com
This is in reference to the farmers and landowners who have commented about being allowed to do whatever they want with their land and that others shouldn’t have a say about it.
I’d like to say, “How would you like it if I decided to open up our farm fields to young dirt bike enthusiasts looking for a place to ride their vehicles, and it was open seven days a week?” And it was lighted, so they could even ride at night.
Of course, we’ll make sure there are mufflers on each bike, with noise limits of just 55 decibels. And we’ll make sure the lights at night blink so they aren’t on all the time. And if the area is zoned for agriculture but we allow them as a “permitted use,” it would be OK with you, wouldn’t it?
Besides, you may not live here year round; maybe you don’t live here at all. This would be OK with you, I’m sure, because, after all, we should be able to do whatever we want with our land, right? It’s our land, is it not?
Or maybe I’ll put up a rendering plant. That fits better into an agriculturally zoned area. I won’t tell you I’m doing it, however. Maybe you won’t find out about it until after I sign my economic development agreement with the county and line up my tax abatement because I will employ about three or four people. Of course, I’m not promising they’ll be local hires.
We all live in something we like to call a society. We must learn to get along and enjoy our properties, but not in any manner that would take away our neighbor’s ability do the same. This is why we have zoning and ordinances and rules and such. You wouldn’t want me to dam up my part of Little Pipe Creek that runs through my property because, “Gee, I’d like a big pond to go fishing in” now would ya?
Tim Aprill
Greentown
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/24/zoning-ordinances-enacted-for-a-reason/