Council Amends Proposed Zoning District

(posted July 19)

Despite Paulett Dotlich's objections, the Speedway Town Council passed a resolution to amend the Speed Zone 1 and Speed Zone II special zoning districts at its July 14 meeting.

Dotlich asked the council not to pass the resolution since it was not posted for public review. The amendments would reduce the permitted zoning uses that are currently available in the Speedway Industrial Park. SIP is zoned I4U. The SIP is one of 39 parcels on the acquisition list to be demolished for the redevelopment project.

According to Speedway Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Scott Harris, the amendments are necessary to provide more flexibility. He said the public hearing process will be conducted by the Metropolitan Development Commission, with the Indianapolis City County Council expected to cast the final vote in October.

The ordinance eliminates heavy industrial uses specified in Section 733-201(b), (c) in Speed Zone II. The boundaries for the zoning changes for Speed Zone II included the south edge of 16th Street between Polco Street and Holt Road.

Speed Zone I covers two hundred feet on each side of the center of Main Street . The amendments provide for museum and educational facilities on Main Street. The proposed ordinance prohibits heavy industrial zoning listed in Section 733-210 (b) (c) and (d). It also prohibits some light industrial uses with the exception of retail, entertainment, or "office activities located in the building in the proximity and along the frontage of the lot."

1200 Main Street is zoned I3U. The east side of Main Street is currently zoned I4U heavy industrial including 1201 and 1255 Main Street.

Erin Dotlich requested the council dissolve the redevelopment commission because she views it as an "abusive form of government" that has the power to pick and choose which buildings or businesses are worthy of staying. She contended that redevelopment commissions strip people of their property rights and their rights to equal protection under the law. She spoke about the system's unfairness through the tax increment revenue shares. Speedway Industrial Park's TIF shares are used to drive it out of business while the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's TIF shares are being used to enhance its business. She also reminded the council of the redevelopment failure of Pole Town Michigan when an entire town was taken by eminent domain to build a Cadillac factory. The factory later closed.

Jo Ellen Dotlich urged the council to disband the SRC because the "residents deserve better than what the SRC is doing."

"Before the cheerleaders come up to say how great the SRC is and how the town needs this redevelopment, just remember one thing, in 3 years have you seen any new businesses in the area? How many houses do you see up for sale compared to 3 years ago?"

She also called for the removal of Redevelopment Authority member Jerry Urick for misleading the public with his statements of support for the redevelopment plan and commission. In two recent public meetings, Urick identified himself as only as a resident. The Redevelopment Authority will own the relocated 16th Street.

Councilor Gary Raikes asked those in the audience to hold their clapping in reaction to her comments.

Jay Coffman requested council intervention to change the proposed I-74 / I-465 interchange that will no longer provide direct access into Speedway. Coffman is concerned the interchange's southwest location onto US 136 will discourage motorists from coming into Speedway. He contends the rerouting of traffic could cause the Speedway Shopping Center to "implode" if commuters take an alternative route.

Harris disagreed saying that people from Brownsburg traveling downtown will continue to use the Crawfordsville Road and 16th Street route because it has less stops than 10th Street.

The council accepted Coffman's request to conduct a public meeting with HNTB engineers to discuss the possibility of altering the plan.

In other matters, the Dry Run Ditch maintenance project that will start next month will be a leaner project than the plans first released in 2006. Anything prohibiting the conveyance of water in the easement will be removed. In 2006, the Storm Water Management Board attempted to preserve trees and buildings that were in the easement after their earlier plans to do a massive clear cut were met with public outcry.

Fire Chief Curtis Dean said the International Village fire damage is estimated at $1 million. He said there has not been a time set to demolish the building. Dean said about 1 million gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire.

The Speedway Promoters Club and the American Legion 500 Post thanked the council for waiving the fees for the 2008 Parade and Fall Festival. The parade starts at 2 pm. RE/MAX 2000 will launch a hot air balloon for the grand finale of the event.