Neighbor questions density as council advances rezoning on East Jefferson Street

The Kokomo Common Council approved Ordinance 72-18 on first reading to rezone nine lots on East Jefferson Street from R-4 (medium-density urban residential) to M-2 (general multifamily residential).

Councilman Grieco described the petition from Jason Urban and noted the southern three lots are adjacent to an alley and to the area where the council earlier approved a street vacation. Neighbor Claudette Roberts of 1248 East Jefferson spoke at the meeting and said she lives next door and wanted to know how the rezoning would affect future development.

Claudette Roberts (resident) asked whether rezoning would allow the owner to change the use later and how many units could be built. She said, “I don’t care if they build something there. It’s just that I don’t want to change the zoning. I like it residential.”

Paul Wyman, speaking on behalf of Mr. Urban, told the council he had met with neighbors and said the M-2 classification carries a legal maximum of 15 units under the ordinance but that spatial constraints mean the developer is likely to be able to build about 10 or 11 units once parking, setbacks and landscaping are applied. Wyman said, “the reality of the matter is … I don’t think you can get 15 on this lot… I think it’s probably closer to 10 or 11 by the time you add in the parking requirements, the landscaping, and all of the sorts of things that are required.”

Grieco and other council members explained that any specific layout would be determined through the planning commission site-plan process and that neighbors would have an opportunity to review and comment at that stage. Wyman also said there had been no discussion of targeting the project for subsidized housing at this time.

After the discussion and public comment, the council approved Ordinance 72-18 on first reading by voice vote. Final approval and the number of units will depend on the developer’s site plan and planning commission decisions.