MARSHALL – Madison County has had its fair share of highly-contested projects throughout the last few years — from an asphalt plant to a “glamping” site in Alexander, to the county’s ongoing regulation of biomass facilities.
But the county’s 50-foot setback requirement for building on ridge tops may be the hottest topic in the county throughout the last few years, and the issue is back on the radar, as the county commissioners voted Feb. 13 to form a ridge top focus group.
The commissioners’ vote comes after the Planning Board voted to recommend the commissioners scrap the 50-foot setback requirement for building on ridge tops in its December meeting in response to an application from Russell Blevins.
The motion for a focus group was offered by Board of Commissioners Chair Matt Wechtel.
“I would like to recommend the formation of a ridge top protection work group, so that we can put together an idea as to how we are going to consider any changes, if there will be any changes — the group could come back and say they don’t recommend any changes,” Wechtel said. “But regardless, we have a Planning Board that has recommended that the ridge top protection rule be changed. I think, in an attempt to take all things into consideration, the best way to attack that would be with a work group.”