Lafayette City Council reviews zoning changes for multiple residential developments

The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission convened on July 16, 2025, to discuss several zoning requests that could significantly impact local development. The meeting highlighted three key rezoning proposals, all of which received unanimous support from the commission.

The first proposal involved a property originally zoned R2, which has been used as a residence despite being rezoned to General Business (GB) in 1968. The owner, Robert Johnson, sought to rezone the property to R1U to make it conforming again, facilitating its sale. The commission recommended approval, noting the property's long-standing residential use.

Next, the commission reviewed a request from the Stewart Cooperative, an all-female Christian cooperative seeking to rezone from R2U to R3U. This change would allow for cooperative housing expansion, which is necessary for addressing safety issues in the aging building. The cooperative has been operating legally as a nonconforming use for decades. The commission supported the request, emphasizing that the new Chauncey neighborhood plan aligns with the proposed multifamily zoning.

The final proposal involved a site currently zoned R3W, where the petitioner aimed to rezone to R4W to increase density. The existing building, constructed in 1991, houses 32 apartment units, and the petitioner plans to convert additional space into more units. The commission found no issues with the request, which aligns with the downtown plan's vision for future development.

All three proposals will advance to the respective city councils for final approval in August, marking a significant step in the ongoing development and zoning adjustments in Tippecanoe County.