Plan commission backs rezoning of former Angola Hillcrest Bible Church for salon, apartment

The Angola City Plan Commission voted Sept. 8 to forward a positive recommendation to the common council to rezone 1207 South Wayne Street from institutional to neighborhood commercial, clearing a necessary procedural step for a pending sale and planned conversion of the Angola Hillcrest Bible Church into a hair salon and a single apartment.

Staff presented the rezoning request, case 2025EC09001, saying the application affects a roughly 2-acre parcel and that legal notice appeared in the Herald Republican on Aug. 29; 17 property owners within 300 feet were notified on Aug. 28. Grace Esten, presenting staff findings, said the property is not in a floodplain and that staff recommended approval because the neighborhood commercial district includes uses that would accommodate the buyer’s planned salon and day-spa and because the request aligns with the city’s comprehensive-plan objectives to encourage redevelopment of underutilized properties.

Owners’ representatives and prospective operators described the conversion plan. Jack Hill, who identified himself as representing the buyers and as the seller’s agent, said the buyers plan a larger salon with additional stylists, “She wants to do a head spa, just offer a lot more,” and to add an apartment on the property to provide affordable housing for a family. Hill said the building footprint will not change: “Everything will stay exactly the same as far as the actual footprint goes. No extra square footage, not going up, not going out.” He also said the driveway serving the parcel is an existing perpetual easement shared with an adjacent storage business.

Staff told commissioners that two phone calls were received following mailed notices; both callers had questions but “expressed no concerns once they heard a little bit more about the project,” Esten said. Commissioners were reminded the plan commission’s role is to make a recommendation to the common council and to pay reasonable regard to the comprehensive plan, current conditions, and the character of nearby uses as required by Indiana Code. After discussion, the commission voted in favor of forwarding a positive recommendation.

The next step for the proposal is a public hearing and final action by the Angola common council; the plan commission’s vote was a recommendation only.