At the November 19 special meeting of the Village of Bluffton Ordinance Committee, council members and residents discussed best case and worst case scenarios for the expansion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the Village.
Seven residents attended the meeting led by council and committee members Mitch Kingsley and Joe Sehlhorst.
The committee has taken a year to draft legislation that would spell out how residential property owners in Bluffton may build attached and detached ADUS for rental and non-rental purposes.
The expressed goal of the legislation is to ease housing shortages and allow for a wider range of housing options. ADUs exist in and can be built in Bluffton, but specific guidelines are not provided for the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
The residents in attendance expressed concerns about changing the character of neighborhoods and creating more rentals with absentee owners. ▶︎
The November 13 meeting of the Bluffton Board of Education included both business and the pleasure of hearing reports directly from middle school students. (Agenda attached below.)
INCOME TAX RENEWAL
A Resolution of Necessity was approved for a tax levy renewal on the upcoming May 2025 ballot. The first levy was passed in 2007. It is a ½ % income tax that raises $1,158,543 annually. Funds generated from the levy help maintain facilities and continue to enhance the school district.
VISITORS
Keith Horner, Superintendent of the Apollo Career Center, updated the board on programs and future initiatives. Currently 39 students from Bluffton attend Apollo. The school now has Fire, Police and Truck Driving programs in a new building and can do testing for CDLs on site. The school plans to introduce a High School Criminal Justice program next year. ▶︎
The Village of Bluffton will hold an Emergency Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 18 on the third floor of the Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St., to consider awarding a contract to repair critical infrastructure to the public water distribution system.
The previously scheduled Ordinance Committee meeting for Monday, Nov. 18 will begin immediately following the Emergency Council Meeting.
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, Bluffton Town Hall
By Paula Pyzik Scott
With the goal of helping ease local housing shortages, the Village of Bluffton Ordinance Committee has drafted an ordinance to provide regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units. On Tuesday, November 19, the Village council will hold a public information meeting to provide details of the current draft of the ordinance (documents attached). Changes to the ordinance are expected as part of this process.
On November 4, there was a joint meeting of the Ordinance Committee with the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning and Building Appeals to solicit input and prepare members who would be involved in permitting and appeals.
There are existing ADUs in Bluffton but no specific guidelines or regulations on construction or leasing are currently part of Bluffton zoning regulations. Chapter 150 - Building Regulations of the Village Code of Ordinances can be found at https://bit.ly/4fxndo0 Chapter 153 - Zoning can be found at https://bit.ly/3URu1EG. ▶︎
The following Village of Bluffton meetings will be held at Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.
- Ordinance Committee on Monday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m.
- Joint Personnel & Safety Services Committee on Friday, November 22 at noon.
- Insurance Committee on Friday, November 22 at 3:00 p.m.
- Ordinance Committee Informational Meeting on Proposed Legislation for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m.
- Council Meeting on Monday, November 25 at 7:00 p.m.
The November 12 meeting of the Bluffton Council included numerous committee reports and seven items of legislation, all of which were approved unanimously. Meeting packet contents are listed and attached below. The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce and Bluffton Icon were in attendance.
Reports included an update on development of a new village park including a soccer complex on the north side of Snider Rd. near Main St. Legislation included approval of a new water rate of $3.54 per CFF from the Village of Ottawa to begin January 1. ▶︎
