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Area Plan Commission issues negative recommendation for Hirsch Road storage rezoning
Summary
The Evansville Area Plan Commission voted 1-5 to give a negative recommendation on a rezoning request to allow an indoor/outdoor storage facility at 5001 Hirsch Road, citing concerns the proposed C4 zoning and use list were too broad and inconsistent with the 2035 comprehensive plan.
The Evansville Area Plan Commission gave a negative recommendation Tuesday to a rezoning request for 5001 Hirsch Road, voting 1 in favor and 5 against. The petition sought to rezone the property from R-1 to C-4 with a use-and-development-commitment (UDC) to allow an indoor and outdoor storage facility.
The commission’s staff report noted the 2035 future land use map recommends residential uses for the site and that a portion of the property is within the 100-year flood plain. Jeremy Schnepper, representing the petitioner, said the applicant narrowed the list of prohibited C-4 uses and submitted an amended UDC after remonstration from a neighboring homeowner. Schnepper told the commission he “went through line by line” and added provisions he considered responsive to prior concerns, and that he had a separate signed agreement with nearby residents he could provide to city council.
Commissioners who opposed the recommendation said the remaining permitted C-4 uses were still too broad for a property directly adjacent to single-family residences. “It seemed really open ended to have C-4,” one commissioner said during debate, pointing to uses such as auction houses and commercial trade schools that would remain allowed unless explicitly removed. Vice President (acting) and other members noted that a negative recommendation would still forward the petition to city council but signal the commission’s concerns and give the applicant an opportunity to tighten the UDC before the legislative hearing.
Roll call followed a motion to approve the petition with the submitted UDC; the tally recorded Mr. Nix voting yes and Mr. Shetler, Mr. Walters, Miss Cobble, Mr. Gable and Mr. Petke voting no. The commission’s negative recommendation will be included in the packet sent to Evansville City Council for the June 23 hearing.
The staff memo attached to the file highlighted several outstanding issues the commission had previously requested, including buffering, traffic, drainage and narrowing of allowable C-4 uses. The petition had been continued from the May 1 meeting to allow the applicant to file amendments.
City Council will receive the file and the commission’s recommendation; any updated UDC filed after the APC meeting may alter the scope of permitted uses before final legislative action.
