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SRC Approves Resolution to Create Special Zoning District
(posted Dec 4)
Once again, the Speedway Redevelopment Commission is chartering new waters
to bring quality and controlled growth to the Speed Zone by passing a resolution
to create a special zoning district and map.
According to American Structurepoint's Shane Burkhardt, the initiation
of the special zoning district now rests with the Indianapolis Department
of Metropolitan Development. The process also requires approval
from the Metropolitan Development Commission, Speedway Town Council and
City County Council. The process amends the Marion County Zoning Ordinance
and Map. According to Harris, the public hearing process would be with
the DMD.
If approved, the Speed Zone Special District will be one of only four districts in Marion County that has a review board to look developers' plans before going to the DMD. The other special districts are park districts, hospital districts, and university quarter districts. The SRC will serve as the the Speed Zone's review board. The Speedway Zoning Appeals will still hear cases that require a variance from the development standards.
The SRC's Dec. 3 passage required some debate time among commissioners to the level of control they wanted the ordinance to have. At the request of Commissioner Ron Fisher, the members agreed to amend the side set backs on Main Street from five feet to zero. Fisher scrutinized other areas of the proposal saying that "I was not asked to be on the commission to carte blanche everything."
Fisher wants the buildings to be "tight." He also was concerned about the amount of side set back space in the industrial section of the Speed Zone. He thought 25 foot side setbacks were too far and that space could be used for building. He was concerned the extra green space would not be maximizing the tax base to bring in TIF revenue.
Burkhardt said the extra green space is to comply with the drainage ordinance to serve as water retention.
Fisher was also concerned that drive thru service is prohibited if it is not a corner business, but SRC President Scott Harris said a variance could take care of the situation if the developer presented a good case for the need to have a drive thru.
Mansur President Chuck Cagann explained that special districts are often
mistakenly perceived as applying more restrictions to growth, but
in actuality it works to encourage certain growth with very specific ways
for doing it. The DMD prefers this type of situation because of their unfamiliarity
with local issues.
Harris speculated the zoning amendment process could be completed by March or April.
The SRC also agreed to use E-gov to host the SRC website. The town council
contracted with E-gov earlier in the year to host a unified website among
all of the town departments, commissions, and boards.
Commissioner Steve Bishop said the way the current site has
been maintained is "unacceptable". The website has not updated
meeting minutes since May 21, 2007.
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