<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Z5990_1GobGhYo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Z5990_1GobGhYo00" width="1200" height="600" ><p>EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The Area Plan Commission voted 5-3 Thursday to give a favorable recommendation to a proposed mixed-use development on North Green River Road, sending the rezoning request to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners.</p><p>The vote came after a long public hearing. Developers and neighbors who oppose the project both spoke.</p><p>Kansas Meadows, LLC wants to rezone about 73 acres near North Green River and Kansas roads. The land would change from agricultural to C-2 community commercial for a residential and commercial development.</p><h2>Neighbors say project is out of place</h2><p>Residents from nearby subdivisions came together at the meeting to speak against the plan. They say it creates a number of problems and doesn’t fit in an area surrounded by single-family homes.</p><p>“For 10 years I’ve lived in a subdivision and wanted to get to know my neighbors better, now I know 275 of my neighbors better,” said resident Jason Fertig.</p><p>Fertig said many people took time off work to attend.</p><p>“If this was going to be rezoned to just residential single-family homes, none of us would be here. We would not, we would all for be out. A lot of us took off from work to be here. Right? I can go down the list.”</p><h2>Developer: Apartments are in demand</h2><p>Representatives for the developer say the project is meant to be a more affordable option as housing gets more expensive.</p><p>“We know the economic plan outlook right now is really tough for single-family homes. Apartments are in demand. Professionals coming out of college can’t afford brand new single-family homes and there’s a lot of interest in apartment development,” said Krista Lockyear, a representative for the developer.</p><h2>Questions about notice and transparency</h2><p>Developer representatives say they held a neighborhood meeting in October to hear from residents. They say they created guidelines for the project based on that feedback.</p><p>Many residents say they didn’t know about the meeting. Those who went say not many people showed up.</p><p>“If they really thought it was that great, I think they would have gone above and beyond the minimum legal requirement to notify more of the almost 400 houses in the surrounding area to explain to people how great of an opportunity they believe this is,” said resident Michael Marshall.</p><p>Residents’ other concerns include traffic, flooding, changing property values and more students straining nearby schools. They also say they are worried about the developer’s transparency.</p><p>“There’s a lot of trust me, we’re going to take care of you without a lot of specific information. That’s very, very frightening to me,” said resident Debbie Meyer.</p><h2>What the rezoning would allow</h2><p>The Area Plan Commission’s staff report says the developer did not submit a Use and Development Commitment with the request. That document would legally bind the developer to specific uses or conditions.</p><p>Without one, the proposed mixed-use plan is not binding. Any of the 108 uses allowed by right in a C-2 zone could be built, according to the report. Those include apartments, retail stores, restaurants, bars and hotels. A residential component would not be required.</p><p>The report also notes that part of the site lies in a flood zone. It says the county’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan recommends the land for residential use, and calls the request “partially consistent” with that plan. Staff said commitments on buffers, drainage and a traffic impact study could help reduce the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.</p><p>Neighbors have also started an online petition asking planning officials to deny the rezoning.</p><p>The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners will take up the rezoning request Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. The commissioners have the final vote.</p></div></body>

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The Area Plan Commission voted 5-3 Thursday to give a favorable recommendation to a proposed mixed-use development on North Green River Road, sending the rezoning request to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners. The vote came after a long public hearing. Developers and neighbors who oppose...

Evansville residents push back on Northside rezoning development

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The Area Plan Commission voted 5-3 Thursday to give a favorable recommendation to a proposed mixed-use development on North Green

Evansville residents push back on Northside rezoning development

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