News

Here’s what Marty sent. 

 

Whose side is the City on? A controversial rezoning decision affecting Eagle Creek in Traders Point in Pike Township signals to the voters and taxpayers living there that they don’t matter. City planners designated 200 acres in the southwest corner of I-465 and West 86th St. as ‘environmentally sensitive’ because of extensive woodlands and wetlands and zoned it for low-density housing and agriculture. Area residents said that’s a good idea, let’s keep it that way. When a developer asked for commercial rezoning of this land, in less than 5 months, the City said ok. At the standing-room-only public hearings, everyone in the audience raised their hands in opposition to the zoning change. Neighborhood and Township residents associations testified in opposition. Letters to City officials did not even get an acknowledgment that the letters were received. The developer changed plans days before the rezoning was approved, yet remonstrators were denied a continuance to do their own fact finding on the changes. The developer has not provided the name of a single tenant in their proposed development. An economic analysis of the proposed development has not been released and City officials were mute on the topics. We did hear that taxpayers, not the developer would have to pay for road improvements. Whose side is the City on? So far, the signal is rather one-sided.

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Hugh Hendrie sent this letter to the Indy Star on July 28 and received no acknowledgment.

 

My wife and I just attended the Metropolitan Development Commission meeting on Thursday July 27th to discuss the rezoning request for commercial development 2023-CZN-814 for the Beeler-Ropkey Properties

Alas it was approved. Will eventually go to council for final approval.

Now speaking as a father, grandfather, and great grandfather, with the current temperature and air quality crises occurring in United States the world, and here in Indianapolis, why on earth do we keep rezoning for commercial development when there is already lots of commercial space already available? Preserving our forests and potential nature reserves is essential.

What are our children going to think of us?

Hugh C. Hendrie, MB ChB DSc

 Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine 

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From Jacque Shaffer:

 

"Tree City USA"; provocative thought, isn't it? Indianapolis has received this recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation 14 times. However, I find this distinction somewhat ironic since our city is on the fast track to rezone 200 residential acres (determined by the city itself as environmentally sensitive) to commercial so developers can clear the land for mixed use and various accoutrements. Regrettably, over 50 acres of this property is home to part of the Eagle Creek Forest that has existed for 100 years and home to wildlife and endangered species of bats as well. In this present world we are seeing everyday and especially this summer that climate change is a real concern. Rezoning environmentally sensitive land with a forest that provides us with cleaner air and natural water filtering and runoff is irresponsible and hypocritical to the city’s supposed distinction. Our city falls terribly short in their efforts to save or even create greenspace. It’s more about concrete, asphalt, buildings and most importantly – wait for it – the projected tax dollars that may come into play.