Plan Commission considers lightening restrictions in R-1 Rural Residential Zone
PLYMOUTH — During their last meeting on May 3, the Plymouth Plan Commission (PPC) considered amending the R-1 Rural Residential Zone, the two mile district outside of town, to allow those who live there to use the land for animal production limited to 4-H projects and home consumption. Retail or outside sales will still not be allowed without a special use permit. The PPC decided to table this issue to the next meeting.
at present, the only agricultural uses allowed in the R-1 zone include crop production, forestry and logging, horses and other equine production, nursery and greenhouse, and portable sawmills. With a variance of use, R-1 residents are allowed to engage in other agricultural ventures, such as animal production, confined livestock feeding, dangerous and exotic animals, farm implement sales and service, as well as livestock auction, composting, distribution, and incineration. Ralph Booker, the Plymouth Plan Consultant, mentioned at the april BZA meeting that there have been few—if any—of these special use permits that have been denied over the years.
The proposed change would create a “agriculture limited” area in the R-1 zone and would not include subdivisions, although Booker mentioned that agricultural special use permits for subdivisions and other districts could be considered at a later meeting. This would return the area closer to its previous ‘agricultural Zone’ designation, which allowed for “any kind of agricultural operation,” according to Booker.
One concern made by the PCC was acreage requirements for larger livestock, such as cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs.
Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal, Jr. agreed. “There needs to be some kind of restriction on the number of large animals you can have per acre. Obviously, you don’t want to have 20 pigs on five acres.” Before the next meeting, Booker will be researching the issue in order to present a suggestion at the next meeting.
Booker explained that making this amendment is a matter of common sense. “People have changed since [the zoning ordinance]. a lot of people want to be self-sufficient. and my particular opinion—i’ll just give it—is we have no way of enforcing it. We can’t enforce what happened. It’s so easy to go out here to TSC and get you some chickens.”
During next month’s meeting, there will also be a public hearing. The PCC will meet on June 6 at 7 p.m. in the City Chambers, which is located in the second floor above City Hall (124 N. Michigan St.) and can be accessed through the Garro St. Entrance. If the PPC passes the amendment, it will go before the city council, who will make the final decision.