| |
Special Examiner Proposed for Speed Zone Appeals
(posted August 24)
Dept of Metropolitan Development planner Tammara Tracy briefed the Development
Commission on the progress of the special Speed Zone 1 and 2 districts
during the pre-agenda August 20 meeting.
DMD Director Maury Plambeck said "we are creating a new district in
Speedway. That district is different than the zoning districts we have
now. And we hope that if it works there, we can use it in other parts of
Marion County, and the hearing examiner is part of that district process."
The special zoning district proposal includes a provision to replace a
hearing examiner at the City County level with a redevelopment commissioner.
Jo Ellen Dotlich questioned the amendment on the grounds that the Speedway
Redevelopment Commissioner cannot be impartial in zoning issues since it
will lease the land from the Redevelopment Authority as part of the redevelopment
project. They are also recruiting businesses to the area.
Tracy discussed the Speed Zone's 350 acre redevelopment project as a precursor
to why the special zoning districts are necessary. She explained the project
is unprecedented to any other area in Marion County.
She highlighted Speed Zone planning process that included the "enormous
public participation that they had." She said the "people were
ready for something to happen," so the project was able to "jump
on it and run." She said that was the key.
Tracy depicted the positive support to the MDC members by describing the
negative vibes they can feel coming from remonstrators when hearing controversial
cases. She said "just flip that on its side 180 to that palatable
immense positive energy for lets do something good and that is what they
(Speedway Redevelopment Commission) had."
However, during the August 6 Area Two Steering Committee meetings, American
Structurepoint Project Manager Shane Burkhardt explained that ideas gathered
from walk-in participants in the 2006 Charette Speed Zone were not used.
"To be quite frank, that information was not used," he said.
SRC Executive Director Scott Harris disagreed with Burkhardt, saying the
input is in the illustrations.
She gave a short presentation of the future look of Speedway. "They
are going to wipe out 16th street and move it down here," not mentioning
the numerous businesses that would be wiped out in the process. She circled
her hand around Speedway Industrial Park area and called it "wasted
land."
She also talked about moving Tenth Street to the north to give Allison
Transmission a better "front door." The revitalization of Main
Street was also discussed to support the need to pass new zoning districts
to carry out the plan.
Plambeck said DMD's focus is zoning, not eminent domain or roads.
Doltich also opposed Tracy's "salesman like conduct" when presenting
the information to the MDC. When Plambeck was questioned about the accuracy
of Tracy's presentation explaining Speedway's public support, he replied
"She said that." No members from the Speedway Redevelopment Commission
were present at the MDC meeting.
Dotlich continued her opposition at the August 25 Speedway Town Council
meeting. She also asked if the proposed local hearing examiner would make
recommendations to the Speedway Board of Zoning Appeals or if the BZA would
be be bypassed when addressing zoning issues in the Speed Zone. The council
did not answer her question, nor did it seek input from the Redevelopment
Commission members present. The town attorney was not present at the meeting.
|
|