Council rezones 1617 S. Kentucky Ave. to maintain single‑family use, overturning nonconforming status

The Evansville Common Council on Feb. 24 adopted Ordinance R2025-02 to rezone the property commonly known as 1617 South Kentucky Avenue from C-4 commercial to R-2 residential, removing its legal nonconforming commercial designation and preserving single‑family use.

The Area Plan Commission recommended approval by an 8–0 vote. The council then voted by roll call; the clerk recorded eight ayes and no nays, and the ordinance was declared adopted.

Area Plan Commission staff told the council that the subject property, a single‑family residence constructed in 1919, has historical residential use but sat within a C‑4 commercial corridor as commercial development concentrated along South Kentucky Avenue. The applicant, Sarah Wibberley on behalf of Dennis Gardner, told the council the owner had attempted to sell the property for commercial use but prospective buyers sought residential mortgages and could not close because of the commercial zoning, leaving the owner constrained to buyers able to pay cash.

Staff said rezoning to R-2 would not match the comprehensive plan’s commercial recommendation for the corridor, but it would be consistent with the property’s long‑standing residential use. With the council’s action the property’s zoning will align with its current residential use and allow residential financing and transactions to proceed under R-2 standards.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance R2025-02 (rezoning 1617 S. Kentucky Ave.) Motion: Adopt ordinance R2025-02 to rezone property from C-4 to R-2. Result: Adopted (8–0).

Implementation: The rezoning removes the property’s legal nonconforming commercial designation and allows the property to continue as single‑family residential under R-2 zoning standards; no additional city appropriation or variance was recorded in the hearing.