Plan commission recommends consolidating split zoning at 100 N. Hobson Ave.

The Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission voted at its October meeting to forward a favorable recommendation to Muncie City Council to rezone 100 North Hobson Avenue from a split R-3/R-4 designation into a single R-3 residence zone.

The recommendation matters because the property currently carries separate tax records and zoning for two contiguous lots; the property owner’s representative said consolidating the zoning will allow a single tax ticket and simplify title and repairs. Maureen Walby, acting by power of attorney for property owner Peter Linwood Brown, told the commission she discovered the split when paying property taxes and learned half the house and lot had been sold separately. “We want to roll this into 1 zoning area,” Walby said. She said Brown has lived at the address about 11 years and does not plan other land-use changes beyond repairs.

Planning staff summarized the application as a request to resolve a split-zone condition that affects a single residential parcel and to forward a recommendation to city council. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the commission meeting, and Walby told the commission she had not heard back from neighbors. The commission then considered a motion recommending approval and recorded a roll-call vote: Dishman, Hensley, Lachey, Sipe, Brand and Smith all voted yes, for a 6-0 favorable recommendation. Planning staff told Walby the commission will provide a certification of the recommendation and that the city council will make the final decision at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 3.

The commission’s action is a favorable recommendation only; it does not change the zoning until the City of Muncley council acts. The commission’s certification will be provided to the applicant to support the zoning consolidation and related parcel consolidation processes at the county and city level.