County zoning up for revisiting, tweaking By KALEY LYON Hays Daily News The Ellis County Planning and Zoning Commission is going to revisit and revise current countywide zoning regulations, and the table has been opened for public input, it was decided at Wednesday's zoning commission meeting. "There's been some question that it should be revisited, and so we decided to open it back up," said Chairman Gene Bittel. "Obviously, the comment was made that this is a living document, and that it's best that we revisit it." In a unanimous decision, zoning commissioners agreed they would review the document and discuss possible changes at the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 6. The vote was 8-0, because commissioner Dick Klaus was absent. This process could take longer than one meeting, and even could become a series of meetings before a public hearing. The general public also will have the opportunity to participate. Written recommendations of corrections or additions for possible adoption can be submitted to the Ellis County Environmentalist's office before the next meeting. Once all the suggestions have been reviewed, the commission will schedule a public hearing to address the proposals and take possible action. "There's been people saying zoning needs to change. Well, I think that opportunity should be afforded everybody, and we will discuss whatever proposals and bring it forth to the public, just like we did before," Vice Chairman Lance Russell said. "Just like we did for almost two straight years every month, going through every word three times in this book. Once again, the board will do it above board, not behind the scenes, not under the table." The meeting was then opened up for those in attendance to express any particular concerns. While several individuals spoke, addition of a comprehensive plan was the main issue discussed -- and tensions ran high. "The other thing I'd really like to be done is I really think the board needs to make a recommendation to the county commission for a comprehensive plan," said resident John Schmeidler. "A comprehensive plan is mentioned throughout state statutes ... Without a comprehensive plan, we don't have zoning. We have rules and regulations, but we do not have zoning." Schmeidler also said corrections should be made so the county's procedural guide is more consistent with the adopted zoning regulations. "The policy and procedural manual says that we have to have an abstractor do the notification area," Schmeidler said. "That rule was not observed, for example, with the (Victoria) cell phone tower." Zoning Administrator Dale Wing said the rule was observed, and all of the information is in the application file, which Schmeidler contested. "It's sure not in the file," Schmeidler said. "Yes, it was in the file," Wing said. "And I'm tired of these accusations that stuff isn't here. If somebody wants to accuse me of malfeasance, I wish they'd stand up and say so, so I can end this (expletive)." "Well, it's not (expletive), Dale," Schmeidler said. "Yes, it is," Wing said. "You're telling lies." This debate, which lasted for several minutes and involved other board members, was cut short by Bittel. "I'm going to stop this right now because we're talking about the past. We're supposed to be talking about future changes," Bittel said. "This is not productive. Now, if someone's got an idea for a proposed change, we'll be more than happy to hear those." At meeting's end, Wing apologized for the debate. "But please, before you accuse me or somebody else on this committee, come look at the files," he said. "Don't take everybody else's word for what's there and what's not there." Residents Keith Pfannenstiel and Glenn Diehl also spoke in favor of a comprehensive plan. "With your zoning, we have the cart before the horse," Diehl said. "I know you don't want to do a comprehensive plan, and I really don't want this board to do a comprehensive plan. But I think you need to suggest to the county commissioners that they make an ad-hoc committee to get a comprehensive plan in place for this county, because we're going to have this bickering forever. "We need to stop this bickering now, and a comprehensive plan, I think, would go a long way to do it." Zoning commissioner Charlie Rohr said that, in the early stages of zoning, a comprehensive plan would not have been well-received. "I don't think a lot of you were there in the first six months to a year of the zoning process, and just to do what we did -- if we'd have talked about a comprehensive plan ... things would have gotten violent," Rohr said. "I'm not kidding. We were pushing to get done what we did." Reporter Kaley Lyon can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 138, or by e-mail at klyon@dailynews.net.