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Greenwood plan commission backs rezoning near SR 135 with 7 use commitments, 9-0
Summary
The Greenwood Plan Commission voted 9-0 to recommend rezoning about 4.7 acres at the northeast corner of Stones Crossing Road and State Road 135 from Commercial Small to Commercial Medium with seven use restrictions; commissioners debated whether to retain a local 150-foot prohibition on gasoline sales.
GREENWOOD, Ind. — The Greenwood Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Greenwood Common Council rezone roughly 4.7 acres at the northeast corner of Stones Crossing Road and State Road 135 from Commercial Small to Commercial Medium, attaching seven commitments intended to limit certain vehicular and outdoor storage uses.
Planning staff told the commission the change would align the parcel’s zoning with adjacent properties and the city’s comprehensive plan, and showed a conceptual plan of development for the site. "Staff is favorable of the zone map change," planning staff said during the presentation, noting the designation matches commercial medium zoning north and south of the parcel.
The applicant, Andrew Marcos of Marcos of Surround, whose firm represents petitioner Ronald House, said the developer is willing to accept most staff conditions but asked that the record preserve the option for gasoline sales in the future. "We don't plan for a gas station at all. It's just we wanna leave that door open," Marcos said, adding the team has coordinated with an adjacent church on driveway alignment.
Planning staff explained Greenwood’s ordinance restricts a list of uses within 150 feet of the SR 135 right-of-way and said portions of the property lie both inside and outside that 150-foot band. "Our ordinance outlines that parcels within 150 feet from 135 ... are not to have fuel sales," planning staff said, and recommended keeping the gasoline-sale restriction as a commitment because the intent was to exclude gas stations along the 135 corridor.
Commissioners questioned how easily a future owner could seek removal of such a commitment. Planning staff replied that removal depends on the willingness of future governing bodies and the comprehensive plan at that time, noting some commitments have been removed in the past while others have not.
A commissioner who argued for retaining the restriction said the city should "stick with the ordinance" to preserve a higher-quality corridor even though a gas station exists just across the municipal boundary in a neighboring jurisdiction. Another commissioner observed that a parcel could be subdivided later in a way that places a new lot outside the 150-foot band, which could change what uses were allowed under the ordinance.
A motion was made to recommend the rezoning, with the seven commitments listed on the record (vehicular sales including recreational vehicles and boats; major vehicular care services; gasoline sales; outdoor storage; contractor storage; and outdoor barn/shed/carport display areas). The commission seconded the motion and voted by show of hands; the presiding officer recorded the tally as 9 in favor, 0 opposed.
The commission’s favorable recommendation — including the seven commitments — will be transmitted to the Greenwood Common Council for its consideration. No specific dates for council consideration were given during the meeting.
