Land use ordinance stands corrected
Published 10:32 am Monday, January 24, 2011
MURFREESBORO — The issue with the town’s zoning ordinance on land usage is now cleared up.
Recently, the Murfreesboro Town Council approved amendments to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance Title XV: Land Usage, Chapter 155. In December, Code Enforcement Officer Gene Flowers reported disconnection with chapters and other problems after the Mideast Commission staff was paid $20,000 to correct the inconsistencies.
At the January 11 meeting, representatives from the Mideast Commission appeared before the board.
Mideast Planning Director Brian Buck said in January of last year the ordinance had been adopted by the board.
“Several months later around May or June, it was brought to the Mideast Commission that there were a few disconnects, language issues with the ordinance that the town would like to be addressed,” he said. “Unfortunately, the original author for that ordinance passed away in June, so we were unable to go back and find out the history or the track that had taken place.”
Buck said there appeared to have been a couple of versions of the ordinance “floating around” and the one version the town was sent was being read off of.
“Once it was brought to our attention, we went back and met with both the Code Enforcement Officer and Town Administrator (Lee Capps) as well as the Planning Board to alleviate the issues and disconnects and bring this ordinance back to where it should be,” he said. “We corrected some of the items and issues of concern and upon meeting with the Planning Board there are a couple of items that they wanted to be inserted in the new ordinance.”
Buck said that was the ordinance the council had before them for a decision.
Councilwoman Gloria Odum asked Flowers if he was satisfied with to new version of the ordinance.
Flowers responded he was and noted the last error he recorded for the ordinance was one found by Mayor John Hinton.
“The book is now complete and appears to be in good working order,” he said.
Councilman Lloyd Hill moved to approve the revised ordinance. The motion was seconded by Odum and passed without objection.