Council tables rezoning for 517 Hewitt Road after residents object to notice and map errors

The Hammond City Council on Jan. 14 voted to table final action on a rezoning request for 517 Hewitt Road after multiple residents in District 3 objected to the proposed change and to what they described as inaccurate project maps and insufficient notice.

Charles Buschirk, who presented the item on behalf of planning staff, said the rezoning was introduced at an earlier council meeting and had been considered by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Multiple residents who spoke during public comment urged the council to deny or delay the rezoning. Brenda Longino said, “I live on here at Roy Wood and I would not like to see a rezoning go on because it would be in my front door.” Other residents and speakers described small turnout at the Planning & Zoning meeting and said the posted sign was too small for neighbors to notice.

A representative for the applicant identified Silverback Properties as the purchaser and said the project would preserve the house facing Hewitt while rezoning and selling the back 3.5 acres. The applicant said he had “invested several 100,000 dollars in that house” and that the intent was not to remove or harm the historic residence; he also said the back tract was being requested to match nearby parcels already rezoned.

During discussion, council members and planning staff noted an administrative subdivision had split the original parcel and that the map attached to the council packet showed the earlier, single-parcel configuration. Council members said the incorrect map and the ambiguous application language warranted pausing the matter so staff and the applicant could meet with the District 3 councilmember and clarify tract boundaries and notice procedures. Planning & Zoning Commissioner Ron Matthews had earlier recommended that materials be clear and suggested peer review in other contexts, but the principal planning staff said an external reviewer was not engaged for the rezoning.

Councilman Wells (District 3) moved to table the item to allow staff to correct maps and to meet with the district’s councilmember; the motion was seconded and the council voted to table the rezoning for further review.

Provenance: Public hearing and public comment on this rezoning appear in the transcript starting at 00:41:01 and the council motion to table occurs later in the record.