Monroe County Planning Staff Seeks Input on Zoning Overhaul

6/8/2020

As part of the process to update the Monroe County Consolidated Development Ordinance (CDO), county planning staff are asking residents to participate in focus groups in the coming months.

The focus groups are organized into these topics:

Affordable Housing/Neighborhood Development
Environmental Protections
Engineering/Surveyors/Realtors/Architect/Land Use Lawyers
Historic Preservation
Citizen Advisory (made up of County residents)
Economic Development
Agricultural Provisions

Click here to sign up for a CDO focus group. Get more information about the CDO process here.

3 Comments

Robin L Canfield

10/4/2020 10:49:29 am

Windfree Estates is still requesting all Monroe County Zoning Ordinances concerning our SR zoned subdivision be enforced within the Windfree Estate platted subdivision boundaries

In an email dated January 22, 2018, Monroe County official’s Larry Wilson, Amanda Barge, sheriff’s office, David Schilling, Jason Eakin, Lisa Ridge; Forest Service official’s Chaveas, Michael -FS, Zimmer, Christopher -FS and Federal Law Enforcement Officer Mr. Kidd conspired to willfully deprive Windfree Estates of rights under the current local, state and federal laws by stating Under the doctrine of Federal Preemption, it is unlikely the provisions of the Monroe County Zoning Ordinance could be applied against Forest Service activities you reference. Federal Preemption could also apply as to State regulations. Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. Windfree Estates Suburban Residential subdivision has tried for over two years to have current local, state and federal laws enforced. It is not an allowable use to have a Governmental Facility like an open to the general public Hoosier National Forest trailhead in our subdivision; to use Windfree Estates as a Parking Facility or to use Windfree Estates for Amusement and Recreation. We have also requesting enforcement of Indiana Trail Guidelines 2016 Public Law 67, IC 14-19-1-1.5 and we are requesting the enforcement of “Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be” as stated on the USDA website.

Robin L Canfield

9/4/2021 12:08:04 pm

Windfree Estates is still requesting enforcement of our current SR zoning ordinances. Windfree Estates Suburban Residential subdivision has tried for over three years to have current local, state and federal laws enforced. Under our current Monroe County SR zoning ordinances it is not an allowable use to have a Governmental Facility like an open to the general public illegal foot path that is not condoned by the Forest Service into the Hoosier National Forest in our subdivision; to use Windfree Estates as a Parking Facility for the Governmental Facility like an open to the general public illegal foot path that is not condoned by the Forest Service, per Christopher Zimmer District Ranger, into the Hoosier National Forest, or to use Windfree Estates for Amusement and Recreation.

"Bloomington officials are taking action against destructive and illegal behavior in public spaces". Please enforce existing SR Zoning Ordinances to reduce prohibited behavior. Please "...discourage illegal and dangerous behavior in any location through existing civil statutes to the use of public spaces, governing public health, or other legitimate means." To prohibit parking and camping restrictions in Windfree Estates to improve public safety and protect natural resources as Windfree Estates directly compares to Tower Ridge Road. As parking on the road has been an ongoing safety issue in which vehicles have impeded the flow of traffic, including emergency vehicles, see attached. As the Wilderness Act of 1964 stipulates that wilderness areas are to provide opportunities for solitude, visitor number must be managed, and are therefore limited to the number of vehicles that the currently designated parking lots can accommodate. Hoosier National Forest themselves do not allow parking on Tower Ridge road for six miles after entering Deam Wilderness area. Parking is only permitted in designated areas. Dispersed camping is allowed in the Hoosier National Forest. That means that potentially up to 75 people can come and park in our neighborhood and camp in the forest for up to 14 days.

Can you help Windfree Estates and take action against destructive and illegal behavior in our public space?

Robin L Canfield

3/11/2022 10:27:55 am

Can you recommend an investigation into the Monroe County and Federal government willfully deprived the residents of Windfree Estates of rights or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States? Under Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. See attachments.

Windfree Estates has been requesting enforcement of our current SR zoning ordinances. Windfree Estates Suburban Residential subdivision has tried for over three years to have current local, state and federal laws enforced. Under our current Monroe County SR zoning ordinances it is not an allowable use to have a Governmental Facility like an open to the general public illegal foot path that is not condoned by the Forest Service into the Hoosier National Forest in our subdivision; to use Windfree Estates as a Parking Facility for the Governmental Facility like an open to the general public illegal foot path that is not condoned by the Forest Service, per Christopher Zimmer District Ranger, into the Hoosier National Forest, or to use Windfree Estates for Amusement and Recreation.

Windfree Estates contends that the Federal Government is unable to “Under the doctrine of Federal Preemption, it is unlikely the provisions of the Monroe County Zoning Ordinance could be applied against Forest Service activities on Federal property. East Salt Creek Drive (including the unimproved segment) is a public right-of-way which may be utilized by the public to access all abutting property-- including the Forest Service tract.” Per Larry J. Wilson, AICP, Director, Monroe County Planning Department, see attached because per Christopher Zimmer, District Ranger Forest Service Hoosier National Forest “I need to reiterate that the Hoosier National Forest does not provide a sanctioned trail within the general forest area near Windfree Estates. In fact, you likely recall that when we met with you on site last time, I mentioned that the illegal foot path, where unknown people had been doing intermittent clearing of windfall trees, was not condoned by the Forest Service”, see attached. Also, according to Parking and Camping Restrictions Clarified for Tower Ridge Road Area, see attached “Due to the Wilderness Act of 1964, which stipulates that wilderness areas are to provide opportunities for solitude, visitor numbers must be managed, and are therefore limited to the number of vehicles that the currently designated parking lots can accommodate.”

Windfree Estates received an email dated January 22, 2018, Monroe County official’s Larry Wilson, Amanda Barge, sheriff’s office, David Schilling, Jason Eakin, Lisa Ridge; Forest Service official’s Chaveas, Michael -FS, Zimmer, Christopher -FS and Federal Law Enforcement Officer Mr. Kidd conspired to willfully deprive Windfree Estates of rights under the current local, state and federal laws by stating Under the doctrine of Federal Preemption it is unlikely the provisions of the Monroe County Zoning Ordinance could be applied against Forest Service activities you reference. Federal Preemption could also apply as to State regulations. Under Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. Windfree Estates Suburban Residential subdivision has tried for over three years to have current local, state and federal laws enforced. Under MCPC zoning ordinances it is not an allowable use to have a Governmental Facility like an open to the general public “illegal foot path, where unknown people had been doing intermittent clearing of windfall trees, was not condoned by the Forest Service” in our subdivision; to use Windfree Estates as a Parking Facility for the Governmental Facility or to use Windfree Estates for Amusement and Recreation. We have also requested enforcement of Indiana Trail Guidelines 2016 Public Law 67, IC 14-19-1-1.5 and the Wilderness Act of 1964, which stipulates that wilderness areas are to provide opportunities for solitude, visitor numbers must be managed, and are therefore limited to the number of vehicles that the currently designated parking lots can accommodate.”. We are requesting the enforcement of “Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be” as stated on the USDA website. All requests to date have been denied.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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