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ROCK CREEK – Village of Rock Creek Council members unanimously approved a motion to advertise for a July 24th public hearing at 6 p.m. to review the general dimensional requirements and permitted uses. A work session will follow the meeting.

The need for zoning changes was prompted last year, in part after Planning Commission members discovered a 50-foot setback regulation. The setback required buildings to be a minimum of 50 feet from the road edge, which caused a problem with some parcels in the village.
A site plan submitted by Primary Health Network in May for a proposed 4,430-square-foot facility on the west-side corner of Main and Water streets has had Council members working eagerly to update zoning laws that could facilitate new business opportunities in the downtown area.
Solicitor David McCombs reviewed and approved the Planning Commission recommendations that standardize setback requirements for 12 feet on the east side of Main Street and 14 feet throughout the rest of the downtown area. These changes will closely match the existing structures in the village.
The public hearing on July 24 will give residents and property owners the opportunity to review the changes and voice any comments or concerns that they may have.
No problems are anticipated for the proposed changes because, if approved, property owners would be allotted greater flexibility in redesigning building footprints in the event of a loss, or if they should desire to construct a new building.
Mayor Pam Forristal said that she’s been in contact with Primary Health Network officials recently and was advised that adjustments to the site plan are already underway that are expected to accommodate the new setbacks.
Revising the site plan to fit the new setback requirements would allow Primary Health Network, to avoid additional delays that could accompany a request for a zoning variance because additional public hearings would then be required.
Council members also discussed the recommendation by the Planning Commission to allow for permitted use. Solicitor David said the difference between conditional use and permitted use is significant. By shifting a hypothetical building from conditional use to permitted use, he said permits could be issued for a building, just as long as the plans meet all other zoning requirements.
Forristal said there were no changes being suggested for the parking in the village of Rock Creek.
In other news, Council unanimously approved the hiring of Kevin Justice as village administrator beginning July 1. According to Forristal, Justice has worked for Rock Creek for about 10 years as a utility supervisor.
Council approved a motion to suspend the three readings rule in order to adopt a new emergency ordinance to lower the pay range for the village administrator position. Effective immediately, the Rock Creek Council administrator pay scale is $20,000 to $28,000. Council approved Justice’s starting salary of $20,000 per year during the six-month probationary period.
In other personnel business, council unanimously approved the appointment of Brian Kinkopf as council member with a term that expires in 2017.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, former Village of Rock Creek Mayor Beverly Martin complimented council members on their performance.
“I’d just like to say that Council is doing an awesome job,” she said. “And [Pam Forristal], you’re the best mayor the village has ever had, and I’ve lived here a long time.”