Plan Commission forwards multi-parcel Memorial Park rezoning to City Council

The Hammond City Plan Commission voted to forward a four-part rezoning petition for property commonly known as Memorial Park (1301 Highland Street) to the Hammond City Council with a favorable recommendation and adopted the staff report as a preliminary finding of fact.

Petitioner presentation and staff materials described a subdivision and rezoning package that splits Memorial Park into multiple lots and open-space/detention areas. The petition, identified as CP-25-01 in meeting materials, would reclassify parcels as follows: a senior housing parcel (proposed R-4, high-density residential), lots 2 through 9 (eight lots) proposed for duplexes and to be rezoned to R-2 (one- and two-family residential), lots 10 through 37 proposed as single-family and to be rezoned to R-1U (urban single-family residential), and one open-space/detention parcel that includes split zoning to be consolidated to a single classification.

Petitioner and presenter Mr. Pollan, identified in the meeting as representing the Department of Redevelopment, told commissioners that the property “is commonly known as Memorial Park” and listed the current address as 1301 Highland Street. Pollan said the subdivision creates multifamily, senior-facility, duplex, single-family and detention/open-space lots; he characterized the rezoning package as a single ordinance drafted to avoid four separate rezoning ordinances.

A member of the public, Quincy Kennedy, identified himself as a nearby resident and said he does not oppose housing but asked the commission to keep some park/open-space area and to consider parking and circulation with expected increases in foot traffic. Kennedy said the existing park is “not very used much.” The petitioner and staff indicated that some passive recreational areas and open-space/detention basins would remain; staff also noted that street right-of-way widths (Plan Commission Street, Avenue and Noble Avenue) were set at 50 feet in the subdivision plat.

Commissioners discussed zoning consistency across split-zoned parcels and confirmed that a portion of the site currently zoned I-2 (industrial) abuts the property to the east. The petitioner estimated the proposed senior facility at roughly “around a 100 units,” and said he would verify that number for the record.

A motion to forward CP-25-01 to the City Council with a favorable recommendation passed on roll call (9-0). A separate motion to adopt the staff report as a preliminary finding of fact also passed unanimously. Both actions were procedural steps required before City Council consideration.

No final rezoning ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the commission’s action was to forward the petition and records to the council for further consideration.