Evansville Common Council Votes NO to Smart Growth Amendment that would accelerate growth

After waiting two hours for Council members to convene in closed session regarding TIF #6, and dispose of other issues, the Evansville Common Council discussed the proposal of John Mourning to move property of Mr. Mass from the long range planning designation to the interim map with the prospect of adding at least 100 lots to consist of a "walkable neighborhood" development, which would include some "node" of commercial development.

Eleven citizens spoke on the proposal, and all were against. Mr. Michael Pierick, citizen and also president of the Evansville School Board, spoke as a private citizen, and reviewed the impact the current population growth for Evansville Schools, much less any consideration of added development beyond the Smart Growth Plan projection. The thrust of his remarks were that the Smart Growth population growth is going to provide big challenges to our school system, and to add any more development without thought of its impact would be irresponsible and harmful to our community, and specifically to our school system and the taxpayers that support it.

Council members voted 0-8 to say NO to the proposal.

Whatever the views of council members before the meeting, it was clear that the council responded to the community wish as expressed in the originial Smart Growth Survey as well as the views of citizens who appeared at the hearing.

Stay tuned. The Observer will have audioblogger and also some text of remarks of the meeting.