Evansville Planning Commission approves strip mall development off Brown School Road; Traffic and sidewalk concerns voiced

John Morning, developer, presented to the Evansville Planning Commission a proposal for a strip mall or multi-tenant commercial building off Brown School Road. It would be in two phases, with the first building to be the one closest to Hwy 14.

The property is zoned Regional Business District, or B4. The property does adjoin the parcel in the Town of Union which has been used as a gravel pit. There will be a buffer between the gravel pit and the development.

As far as the design standards of the building, the city planner, Tim Schwecke indicated that the building met most of the "Big box" standards that are currently in the process of drafting. I believe that in the proposed "big box" standards, any building over 5,000 sq. ft would come under the architectual guidelines. As I understand it, much of the "back" of the building which would face Hwy 14 will be blocked in view by a berm and trees.

Much of the discussion, almost an hour, was about the timing of the development. As you may remember, Mr. Mourning did put $35,000 in a letter of credit for the bypass lane to be constructed at J. Lindemann and Hwy 14, but the city has been very close to going to eminent domain to get posession of the land, or in the alternative annexing the land at the request of D&D development.

It is unclear what the cat and mouse game is all about. It may be a negotiating tactic of D&D but it is providing a lot of stress to the city, the developers such as John Morning and the drivers that risk collision on Hwy 14.

The Planning commission considered delaying the approval of Mr. Morning's project till the bypass lane was put in. There were even two votes on a motion by Aikman and Vrstal. However, this would have delayed the project for a year possibly and maybe even longer at a time when old and new businesses of Evansville need space. Ultimately the Planning commission approved the development and instructed the city to proceed to eminent domain to get the extra land needed for the bypass lane if the city did not get the cooperation of D&D.

Click on the audio post to hear Mr. Morning urge the commission not to delay when he had paid the money for the bypass lane.

The second issue was the sidewalk or lack thereof on Brown School Rd. The developer wanted the same deal given to Ace, namely that they would put in the sidewalk when the Ace and the Bank were also required to. At the end of the night, the planning commission instructed the City Administrator to talk to the bank about either putting the sidewalk in or the city would.

Evansville has asked for commercial development, not just residential. It is coming to the East side. It is coming soon.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to the Observer.

If you attended the meeting and would like to add anything to these minutes, feel free to add it on the comment line.