Board of Zoning Appeals
The Decatur County Board of Zoning Appeals began its meeting with the approval of the June 3, 2026, meeting minutes.
BZA Petition 2026-9 Trudy Ewing requested a variance to waive the requirement to construct a retention pond in order to comply with the Decatur County Drainage Ordinance. The request falls under the Decatur County Stormwater Technical Standards Ordinance dated November 1, 2023, and recorded April 2, 2024.
The property is currently owned by Max G. and Doris M. Maudlin and is located at 4204 W. County Road 300 N. in Greensburg, Adams Township.
Adam Cooper appeared on behalf of the petitioner. Cooper explained that Ewing is looking to subdivide the approximately 42-acre property into 3.5-acre buildable lots. He said he was responsible for conducting the drainage analysis and explained that water currently drains toward the northwest portion of the property.
An individual appeared on behalf of an adjoining property owner. He identified himself as an employee of an Indianapolis-area engineering firm and asked questions about the process the petition had gone through and the steps that would follow. He requested that the petition be tabled to allow him additional time to review the information, stating that he had only received the material at approximately 4:30 p.m. that day.
Another individual, who is related to the adjoining property owner, said the property owner was not opposed to development but wanted to continue farming the adjoining land. He expressed concerns about previous water issues in the area and the potential for additional stormwater runoff resulting from the development.
The board proceeded with the vote and unanimously approved the variance request.
BZA Petition 2026-10 Debora Cox requested a conditional use to operate a land-clearing and logging business. The request falls under Section 935 of the Decatur County Ordinance.
The property is owned by Debora L. Cox and is located at 1017 S. County Road 550 W. in Greensburg, Clay Township.
Cox told the board that the business has been operating for approximately five years. She said they had been under the impression that a variance was not required because the operation was considered an agricultural business. She is now seeking approval through a conditional-use request.
Cox also acknowledged that the business occasionally burns scrap wood on the property.
Mr. Gilbert, who owns property across the street, asked whether the conditional use would apply to one or both parcels that make up the property. The board clarified that the request covers both parcels.
Gilbert expressed concerns about noise, smoke and odors coming from the property. He said the smoke has resulted in his home smelling like smoke and that the situation has affected his ability to enjoy his property. A family member also spoke in support of his concerns, saying the noise and smoke have been excessive and that the family has been unable to sit on their porch because of the smoke.
Additional concerns were raised about the use of engine brakes by vehicles entering the property, open burning, potential hydraulic fluid and oil leaks, and the location of fuel tanks.
The petitioner responded to the concerns regarding burning, explaining that they attempt to burn only when winds are coming from the east and that they make sure the material being burned is clean. He acknowledged that a burn conducted the previous year had gotten larger than intended but said it was an isolated incident. He also confirmed that engine brakes are used and said the business works to keep the property cleaned up.
The board asked about alternatives to burning the wood. The petitioner explained that they bring only a minimal amount of wood home and make every effort to dispose of the material in other ways. They said burning occurs approximately once or twice a month at most.
The board voted to approve the conditional-use request with a one-year review. The approval also includes a condition that wood from other locations cannot be brought onto the property for burning and that only wood already located on the property may be burned.
The petition passed on a 3-2 vote.
BZA Petition 2026-11 Jody Westerfel requested a conditional use to operate a photography business. The request falls under Section 935 of the Decatur County Ordinance.
The property is owned by Abby Kolb and Jody Westerfeld and is located at 4940 S. County Road 240 W. in Greensburg, Sand Creek Township.
Westerfeld said the business, Frame 55, would operate by appointment only and would be scaled back from the business she currently operates. She said she does not want to significantly change the character of the area, noting that her father helped build the property and that she wants to preserve the characteristics of the neighborhood.
There were no questions or concerns from the public.
The board unanimously approved the conditional-use request.
Area Plan Commission
The Decatur County Area Plan Commission began its meeting with the approval of the August 5, 2026, meeting minutes.
APC Petition 2026-18 Jeffrey Moore requested to rezone approximately 0.35 acres from an R-2 zoning classification to an R-4 zoning classification. The request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section 1045.
The property is owned by Westport Wesleyan Church and is located at 210 N. East Street in Westport, Sand Creek Township.
Moore explained that the property is the former church property and that the church is looking to convert space inside the Life Center and the former church building into a duplex. He said the project would generate additional income for the church.
The Town of Westport voted 3-2 in favor of supporting the request.
There were no additional comments or concerns brought before the commission.
The commission voted to approve the rezoning request.
APC Petition 2026-19 Park Road Radio LLC requested to rezone approximately 8.92 acres from an A-1 agricultural zoning classification to a B-2 business zoning classification. The request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section 1125(23).
The property is owned by the petitioner and is located at 1217 W. Park Road in Greensburg, Washington Township.
Kathy Verseman and Emily Verseman appeared on behalf of Park Road Radio LLC.
Kathy Verseman stated that she wanted to address rumors that a data center was being considered for the property. She stated that there have been no discussions about placing a data center on the property. She added that this rumor was just that…. a rumor.
Verseman explained that the company is looking at restructuring its technology and equipment. She said the existing towers are expensive to maintain and that the company is exploring options for upgrading its equipment. One option would be to consolidate three towers into a single tower and bring the FM tower back onto the property. Any changes to the tower configuration would require final approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
Dawn Barnes spoke in opposition to rezoning the entire property. She said the surrounding area consists primarily of farmland and homes. Barnes said she believed the radio station had previously been grandfathered into the property when the home was changed from residential use to business use. She asked that the property remain agricultural rather than being rezoned to business. Dawn stated that her concern isn’t while the radio station owns the property, but she was concerned should the property be sold to someone else.
Mr. Barnes also said that while he supports the radio station, he does not believe the entire parcel should be rezoned from agricultural use.
The petitioner asked whether the matter could be tabled so they could discuss the issue with their engineer.
The commission indicated that it may be willing to consider rezoning only a portion of the property rather than the entire parcel. The commission voted to table the petition.
Decatur County Revitalization Project Show-Cause Hearings
R2026-32 – Brenda Barraza, Araceli & Edith Monarrez
No representative appeared to speak on behalf of the property.
Doug Westerfeld told the commission that some vegetation cleanup had taken place, but the property still did not meet the county’s expectations for cleanup.
The commission voted to move the case forward in the process and refer it to court.
R2026-33 – Bryan & Tina Moore
Bryan Moore appeared before the commission regarding the property.
Moore said he had been in contact with Doug Westerfeld and had repaired the roof and completed some of the other work requested by the county. He said that after completing the repairs in April 2026, he received another letter from the Area Plan Office dated July 23. Moore said he believed the letter referenced items he had already completed after receiving an earlier letter in January.
Moore also discussed a canopy and cages used to house chickens. He acknowledged that the property can sometimes appear cluttered but said he could move the cages to the backyard if they were considered a problem. He explained that one cage in the front yard is permanent, while the others are used when transporting chickens to swaps.
Westerfeld told the commission that he receives reports concerning the property approximately every other week. He said he had most recently received a phone call from one of the County Commissioners. Animal Control had also been contacted following an issue involving a neighbor and visited the property to check on the animals.
Westerfeld provided the commission with a February 2026 aerial image of the property.
Moore said there are several items in the backyard and claimed some of the clutter resulted from another individual placing wood and scrap metal on his property and then reporting him.
Westerfeld told the commission that both the front and backyard still needed to be cleaned up. He disputed Moore’s statement that the property had been cleaned up by April, stating that only the roof had been repaired by that time.
Moore stated that no one had told him that he needed to be cleaning up the backyard as well.
After hearing from Moore, the commission voted to move the case forward to court without granting an additional extension.
