Council conditionally approves parking-lot conversion at 5357 South 9th Street, sends design back to planning

Indiana Borough Council voted on April 7 to approve a conditional-use request that would allow the owner of the property at 5357 South 9th Street to convert the historic, yellow-brick former doctor's office site into a parking lot, while requiring a return to the Planning Commission for final design approval and additional design conditions.

Planning Commission members had recommended against demolition and converting historic buildings into parking lots. At council, members described the building as in poor condition and debated the tradeoffs between preserving historic fabric and providing parking near a campus that generates demand. Several council members said parking availability in downtown is generally adequate, while others said the immediate parcel lacks sufficient parking for adjacent multiuse buildings and that a limited parking solution could help revitalize neighboring properties.

Council discussed attaching conditions to any approval, including a vegetative buffer, decorative screening and a requirement that the design meet mixed-use zone standards before construction. One council member proposed approving the conditional use while denying or withholding approval of the submitted design and directing the applicant to return with a design that meets landscaping and screening expectations.

The motion offered on the record read as approval of the conditional use pending design approval. The motion passed by roll call with six yes, one no and one abstention; the abstaining member disclosed a personal relationship with the developer and recused themselves from the vote.

Council directed staff and the Planning Commission to work with the applicant to develop a design that preserves historic elements where feasible, includes vegetative screening, and returns to the commission for final design review prior to final council sign-off.