By Andy Chappell-Dick

The October 25 Village of Bluffton council meeting was dominated by two public hearings involving real estate development. Both items were approved by Council as described below.

In regular business, Council heard that Bluffton is being considered for a retail marijuana dispensary on SR 103. Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn has advised the interested party that Bluffton's zoning ordinance does not specifically restrict this type of business. Checking with nearby communities that have a dispensary, Blackburn found no reports of problems with these businesses. Such stores are subject to control by Ohio's Pharmacy Board, a process followed by a selection lottery.

Council approved a motion to pay the Village's bills and heard a report on the performance evaluation of the Village Administrator. Ordinance 08-21 passed its third reading, establishing a new parking restriction on South Lawn Avenue, and Resolution 20-2021 passed its first reading, authorizing the Village to seek grant funds for parks.

Mayor RIch Johnson read a proclamation commending Bluffton Hospital for its financial support of the new disc golf course out at Village Park. Resident organizers thanked the council for its support of the project, for which funding has been raised privately. The course should be fully installed and operational by next year, and the Parks Committee encouraged the group to formally incorporate as the Bluffton Disc Golf Association, a non-profit similar to others that work in partnership with the Village.

Village administrator Jesse Blackburn and Assistant Administrator Bryan Lloyd reported on the following items:

WIth a new building going up at Bluffton University, coordination has begun to update and relocate several aging water lines through the middle of campus.

Hydrants are being flushed and crews are also working to keep street drains clear of leaves and debris.

Leaf pickup is starting and the Village reminds residents to not pile leaves in the street. Leaves should be placed in narrow rows on the treelawn or at the edge of the curb.

Permission to advertise for and hire a full-time person for the Public Works Department was requested.

The ongoing sump pump inspection program is 7.1% complete.  (This program ensures that residents' sump pumps do not discharge water into the sanitary sewer line.)

Fire alarms at Town Hall are 13 years old. The system will need replacement for as much as $20,000. 

Crack-filling of the municipal parking lot will take place during the night soon; residents and businesses will be informed in advance.

At 7:10 the first public hearing was opened to consider a request to split an existing lot at the corner of Tom Fett Road and Augsburger Road. The resulting smaller lot would have dimensions of 100' x 700', narrower than allowed by Bluffton's Zoning Ordinance. If approved, the lot would be a fully buildable lot, which could only be used for a single residence.

About a dozen residents were present for the 7:15 hearing regarding a Planned Unit Development (PUD) proposal by developer Bob Fett to create a subdivision on former farmland, with access from Sunset Drive. Discussion covered the ordinance’s requirement that “extraordinary circumstances” be present. Residents expressed concerns about the opportunity to address design decisions, increased traffic, and effects on property values.

Mr. Fett stated there is strong demand for housing in Bluffton, and Councilman Kingsley added other developers have found there to be no available places to build in the village.

Council approved the Planning Commission recommendations unanimously. Those in attendance were advised that the developer can begin the process of engineering the project, and there will be further opportunity for the Commission, Council, and the public to weigh in on details.

The next regular meeting of the village council is scheduled for 7 p.m. on November 8.