The commissioners have a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 15, at 1:45 p.m. at the county Safety Building to hear comments on the proposal.
The regulations were drawn up by the county planning and zoning staff, which worked “closely” with the Miami County Farm Bureau and the Soil and Water Conservation District, Dan Suerdieck, county planning and zoning manager, said. The county engineer’s office also was involved.
Under the proposal, the regulations would affect recreational ponds over 750 square feet and require the owner to secure a permit. The regulations would require a 75-foot setback in the front yard and 25 foot side yard and rear yard setbacks in all county zoning districts.
Permits would not be required for agricultural ponds, which are exempt from permitting under state law. Retention and detention ponds also would be exempt because plans for those are considered during the subdivision review process.
By reviewing pond plans before construction, hopes are to identify field tiles and/or drainage systems in the proposed construction area and ensure they are properly identified and repaired, Suerdieck said during a presentation before the county planning commission.
Commission member Randy Mott, who served on the Soil and Water Conservation Board for a number of years, said in the past there have been issues with owners of lots of five to 10 acres building a recreational pond without regard to the existing drainage system.
“I think this is really an improvement, to have the county engineer and Soil and Water Conservation District have at least a little bit of input into the design and construction phase,” Mott said.
County Commissioner Jack Evans, who, along with the other two commissioners, is on the planning commission, said Suerdieck was asked to check with surrounding counties to make sure the proposed Miami County regulations were not too restrictive.
Suerdieck said the proposed regulations were based primarily on those in Clark County.
Under the proposed regulations, those wanting to build a recreational pond would need to provide drawings/plans for review and Soil and Water Conservation District representatives would inspect the pond before the permit was issued.
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