Preble to revise master plan.
Rezone for commercial development and add an
Aquifer Protection District

Committee to be appointed at next town board meeting to study the issues.

The town had a three board workshop meeting on July 29th 2002 to discuss the land use plan, referred to as the "Master Plan" and determine what should be done about it. Don Armstrong encouraged the town to look at rezoning some areas of Preble to encourage commercial development. Betty Pitman brought up the idea of an Aquifer Protection District and Dan Dineen from county planning discussed the concept. Both Homer and Cortlandville have such a plan (see below) and Preble has indicated in their Land Use Plan that this needs to be done. Both Tom Fox and Lynette Currie were in favor of exploring it.

The boards decision to examine rezoning has some residents worried that this is just a back door way to allow Flying J to re-enter the area. I discussed this with Dan Dineen and he said that any change to the town plan would have to be a well thought out comprehensive plan. He also said he expected to be named to the committee as he was on the committee that created the original land use plan. I presume that the town board, in an effort at fairness, would want to have representatives from all areas of the town on this committee. The committee would meet and discuss the proposals and come up with the comprehensive plan as outlined by Dan Dineen. All of this will happen in public for all to see. Once this new plan is devised it will be presented to the town board for a vote. Then the typical public hearing will go forward and a final vote taken. If it turns out that it is just a ruse to get Flying J in then I'm sure lawsuits will be the order of the day.

While it is certainly possible that this is a ruse to allow Flying J I would be surprised if the town board would try this. It would be just too transparent and... well... foolish. I can't believe this is the case. I prefer to believe that the town board is interested in strengthening and clarifying the town's laws and protecting the aquifer. In that regard I made it a point to applaud Betty Pitman after the workshop for proposing the Aquifer Protection District. As Dan Dineen pointed out, the people of Preble are keepers of the aquifer that feeds 50,000 people and we have a responsibility to protect it. If we were going to create new commercial zoned areas then it is imperative that the Aquifer Protection District be created before or at the same time. Why? Because it would be foolish to create a new commercial zone without having the protections of the Aquifer Protection District. It would also benefit and protect new commercial companies that might want to locate here to know their business is protected.

For example: Suppose a food processing company wanted to locate here. It would be important to that company to know we have these protections in place that would prevent a "dirty" company from locating here and polluting the water thus endangering the food processing companies business. In other words the Aquifer Protection District would be a huge asset for Preble and companies that would consider locating here.

We all want business to come to Preble but we all want businesses that would add to the community and not degrade it. The Aquifer Protection District would help to ensure that and it is a good thing for Preble.

That is why Dan Dineen calls for the need of a comprehensive plan. There are a number of issues to look at and considerations to be made. All too often when these things are rushed into unexpected and unforeseen consequences happen. For example if we are not careful in changing these laws you might end up allowing gravel mining without intending it. Over the coming months I will have more information here as these issues are brought up and discussed. The committee that the town board will appoint will have their work cut out for them. I wish them well.

Here is the link to the Cortlandville Aquifer Protection District plan.

Here is the link to the Homer Aquifer Protection District plan.

Note: Both of these plans are very similar and would be close to what we would end up with.

Statement of intent. The purpose and intent of the Aquifer Protection District is, in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare, to preserve the quality and quantity of the town's groundwater resources in order to ensure a safe and healthy drinking water supply. This is to be accomplished by regulating land uses which might contribute to the contamination of any aquifers identified as necessary for the present and future water supply of the Town. of Cortlandville.

Frank Hogg 8/5/02