Planning Commission: Citizens Pitas and Fanning give textbook presentation on zoning---Commission responds Unanimously

Last night at the Evansville Planning Commission meeting, something pretty remarkable happened. The first was that The Observer was silent. Yes. A bad cold and bronchitis. Thanks to all who have called and sent flowers...

The newsworthy event that was remarkable was that the city of Evansville filed an application to change the zoning status on 39 West Church Street from R1 to B1. Two citizens, Mr. Pitas and Mr. Fanning came to the meeting after receiving a short notice of the meeting to first inquire what it was all about, and then protest the lack of wisdom of the request. In their presentation and questioning, they gave a textbook lesson on planning----and the Planning Commission responded with a 7-0 vote in their favor.

In this most unusual case, the city became an advocate for the homeowner-dentist evidentally so that a larger sign for the business could be secured. Mr. Pitas then asked the Evansville City Planner to read out the specifications of a B1 and what type of businesses would be elegible to be placed in the neighborhood:

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The argument of Mr. Pitas and Mr. Fanning was that the change of zoning would harm the neighborhood, and just the listing of the possible businesses that could be placed on a B1 zoned property clearly indicated that this was unwise for a community that was primarily residential, and one that did not desire to become commercial.

The Planning Commission could have delayed the decision by tableing the item, but choose the stronger action of defeating it, clearly sending the signal that the proposal was unwise.