BROOKVILLE — Planning commission approved a preliminary recommendation of R-1A (suburban residential) zoning for the 113.562 acres of land in Perry Township recently annexed to the city of Brookville.

The property is located between Heckathorn Road and the Wolf Creek bike trail.

The annexation was approved by the Montgomery County Commissioners on Aug. 1.

Brookville council accepted the annexation of the property at its Oct. 17 meeting.

“After planning commission makes its initial recommendation, city council will commence with the zoning process by passing a first-reading ordinance to establish the zoning district for the property,” law director Rod Stephan said.

“After a public hearing on the zoning ordinance, planning commission will make a final recommendation to city council on the proposed zoning,” Stephan continued.

Stephan said the property owner, JLR Leasing LLC, which is managed by John Ritter, plans to construct a meeting facility for an area church

Stephan said the property owner requested the annexation in order to obtain city water and sanitary sewer services.

Stephan said the meeting center will contain meeting rooms and a recreation area.

“It is expected the meeting center will occupy approximately five to seven acres,” Stephan said.

Stephan said plans are to zone the area in one of the three city residential categories.

“The R-1A zoning, which is our highest level of residential zoning in terms of the largest lots, would be consistent with the property on the west boundary of this property,” Stephan said.

Stephan noted the annexed property on its west boundary is adjacent to vacant land and is zoned R-1A.

“The Brookville subdivision that is adjacent to the north boundary of the annexed territory is zoned R-1C (urban residential) and R-3 (mult-family residential),” Stephan said.

“There’s also a small area of I-1 (light industrial) zoning on the north boundary of the property,” Stephan added.

Stephan informed planning commission the meeting center will fit any of the three residential zoning categories because “churches and other buildings for the purpose of religious worship are special use in residential zoning districts.”

“R-1A seems like a good choice since there’s such a large boundary of R-1A already on the west,” planning board member Ken Claggett said

Planning board member Tony Ezerski agreed.

Mayor Chuck Letner, who also favored R-1A zoning, asked if there were any plans for additional development of the land after the meeting facility is built.

“There’s one barn/house he plans to build there that would fit in the zoning,” Stephan replied.

“They, however, have no other plans for development right now. The rest of the land will probably stay vacant for a considerable period of time.” Stephan continued.

“We’re not trying to tie his hands as what he can build there, but we want to keep the development consistent to what is already there,” Letner said.

Stephan said the owners are currently creating a site plan for the property.

“It will probably be in front of planning commission within the next couple of months,” Stephan said.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].