How will the proposed ordinance amendment affect you?

When business owners and others recently began getting certified mail from the towns of Versailles, Milan and Osgood, they began to ask questions.

The letter states in part, “The purpose of this ordinance is to help preserve downtown storefronts, highway corridor properties, and other commercially zoned buildings for business and economic development purposes. Maintaining active commercial spaces on the first floor of the buildings in these areas supports local businesses, encourages investment, and helps strengthen the long-term vitality of our communities.”

Legal notices were published in The Versailles Republican on June 11 from each of the respective towns stating how the ordinance would work.

Essentially, owners of property within the described confines of the legal notice would not be able to rent the first floors for residential living. It notes that it does not impact originally designed single-family dwellings in non-residential zoning districts.

Within the legal notice it says, “if a dwelling unit that is non-conforming used is vacant for 60 days or more, it shall not again be used as non-conforming.” In other words, if a renter (residential) leaves an existing building, the owner would have to rent the space within 60 days or it could no longer be a residential rental, if the new ordinance passes.

A meeting has been set for July 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ripley County Commissioners Room in the courthouse annex in Versailles for those who would like to know more about the proposed ordinance, which will be presented to the Ripley County Area Planning Commission at that time.

Those with questions, comments, or concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in the public discussion according to the certified letter Ripley Publishing Co. received.

A resident of the affected area believes this ordinance borders on taking away private property rights. A lot of questions are swirling about the proposed ordinance. Many taxpayers already feel burdened with the load of paying high taxes. Some are saying, “This overlay district doesn’t affect many, but creates quite an unknown.” They also asked if this model is working in towns in other counties.

With housing being a serious concern for many, some people with rental properties are also seeing roadblocks being put in place by authorities to keep them from making the property they have habitable for affordable housing.
If you received a certified letter from any of the respective above towns, you probably should be attending the July 7 meeting and asking questions to make sure this model will be a good fit for the majority of property owners.