Byesville places six month moratorium on small house construction

Kristi R. Garabrandt, The Daily Jeffersonian
·2 min read
Byesville growth is not without challenges

A moratorium on construction or installation of houses less than 850 square feet on the main floor was put into place by Byesville Village Council this week.

The moratorium is for six months to allow the council time to review the village's ordinances relative to the square footage requirements for residences in the village.

During the six-month period, the zoning board will meet to develop the law associated with the minimum square footage in the zoning district. When the revisions are made they will come to council for a full vote, Village Administrator Brennan Dudley said.

After the review is complete the square footage requirement could change.

According to Dudley, residents can still build but during this time, but the new builds must be more than 850 square feet. Anything less than that would not qualified to be built at this time.

The size was determined by looking at some of the minimum sizes of 820 and 830 square feet and the general or international standard is 930 square feet, Dudley said. This applies only to new constructions. Existing houses smaller than the determined legal size will be grandfathered in.

Dudley also reported the $400,665 South Second Street waterline project is approximately 55% complete. There will be a few days of lane closures as the east/west laterals are installed and connected. Signs will be placed in advance of the closures with detour details and truck traffic will be routed over Country Club Road.

Work is approximately 85% complete on the $100,000, North Eighth Street waterline project. Resurfacing work on the road should began within the next two weeks, but that could change

Dudley expressed concerns over the condition of the road, as it is high in some areas and may need to be grinded down. If the road does not needed grinded, the road will be resurface when the village works on other roadways.

In other business"

  • Two new stop signs were installed in the North/South alley between South Fifth and South Fourth Streets behind the township office.

  • The village received a $75,000 Opportunity Appalachia Grant for technical assistance for architectural rending and a business prospectus associated with the possible acquisition of Byesville Elementary School. The village would like to purchase the vacant school from Rolling Hills School District and turn it into a mixture of retail and community space.

  • Dudley toured the new Guernsey Power Station, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

  • Quanex employees will clean Byesville Village Park Saturday and residents are encouraged to help. The trail around the park may be the next project after completion of the waterline project, which has to be done be September.

Village council meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 in the Byesville Village Hall.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Byesville places six month moratorium on small house construction