Commissioners vote against rezoning

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A split rezoning vote left one property as residential and stops the potential for a dog boarding facility on that property.

The Tippecanoe County Commissioners voted not to rezone a property west of West Lafayette from residential to agriculture.

The split vote Monday morning keeps one Tippecanoe County property from being rezoned to an agriculture property.

Three neighbors and an attorney representing a group of neighbors spoke to the commissioners against the rezoning of the property located on 250 West. 

According to County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh, the rezoning was requested for the owner to operate a dog grooming business and eventually add a boarding kennel. Murtaugh, who voted no on the rezoning, says it was to maintain the neighborhood.

"The agriculture zoning seemed inappropriate in this area," said Murtaugh.  "It's truly a residential feel."

County Commissioner Chairman David Byers voted yes for the rezone and says the neighbors had a lack of communication and he didn't see a potential for as many dogs as was described in the meeting.

"As a farmer, I love seeing ground go back to agriculture," said Byers. "That's the main thing that I really like moving for. I don't see this as being as extreme as what they were talking about. It's not going to be a kennel as everyone kept saying and calling it. So, to me, I didn't see a problem with moving in that direction."

The petitioner for the rezoning, Dianna Hilderbrand did attend the meeting to answer questions from the Commissioners. She did not want to appear on camera but did say she would appeal to the County Building Commissioner to have a special exemption for a home business for her dog grooming. Murtaugh expects that to happen soon.

"She can still do it with permission from the Building Commissioner," Murtaugh said.  "Which he will grant if requested."