Rezoning request for 111103 South Center Street tabled after neighbors raise environmental, safety concerns

The Vigo County Area Plan Commission tabled a petition to rezone 111103 South Center Street from R-1 to R-2 at the petitioners' request, and heard public comments from neighbors who said they opposed the rezoning and raised environmental and nuisance concerns.

President John Hanley opened the item and said the petitioners had asked to table the request; commissioners voted to table. Hanley told attendees the commission would take no formal action on the rezoning that night.

Vic Pierman, a neighbor who identified himself as living at 1239 South Center, described ongoing property maintenance and environmental concerns attributed to the property owner and their contractors. Pierman said there had been "open burning of demolition materials on weekends" during an October-November countywide burn ban and that contractors had removed siding in a way he believed made asbestos-containing materials friable. He stated, "Homeowners are not exempt from Indiana code 3 29 I a c 10 dash 4 dash 2," and described loose debris and ash he said remained on the lot and nearby sidewalks.

Pierman also alleged the yard contained "an old petroleum underground storage tank for heating oil" as evidenced by a fill line protruding from the yard and expressed concern about toxic mold from a water-damaged structure he said had gaping roof holes.

Another neighbor, Herb Rooks of 41414 South Sixth, urged the commission not to rezone the only block in Terre Haute zoned R-1, saying, "I don't understand why you as a group would even consider rezoning a home on the only block in Terre Haute that is specifically R 1." Rooks said he believed neighbors opposed the change and criticized the property owner for demolishing a garage to create off-street parking.

Commissioners said they would accept public comment for the record despite tabling the item and emphasized that the matter will return to the commission when the petitioner requests rescheduling.

Why it matters: Neighbors attributed several environmental and public-health risks to demolition and cleanup practices at the property and asked the commission to deny rezoning that would allow two-family rentals on a block they said should remain single-family. The commission took only procedural action (tabling) and did not adjudicate the factual claims.

What happens next: The petition remains tabled at the request of the petitioners; staff and the petitioner will determine the next hearing date. Any future rezoning hearing will include staff reports, and affected residents may present evidence to the commission and any relevant enforcement agencies.