Economic Summit Key for Evansville---Can Whalen be Neutral Faclitator?

The Upcoming Economic Summit for Evansville could provide a key opportunity to focus on key essentials for the future and get everyone on the same page. The facilitator for this event is going to be Judy Whalen.

Judy Whalen was the facilitator of the Union Smart Growth Process that culminated in the Smart Growth document. After the decision of the Union Planning Commissin recently, and after the full discussion of the Union Town Board---fully covered in audio and video on The Observer----Judy Whalen rose to suggest that the Planning Commission had not been thorough and NOT followed the plan. And she suggested that the Board should, if they agreed, REVERSE their decision.

The audience, including the Observer, was shocked. This seemed to overstep her role.

Indeed, Mike Exum, who had intended to remain silent, rose to defend the Planning Commission.

Kendall Schneider then reminded everyone of the 14 elements of the Planning process and urged member to review all of them in making their decision. They ruled unanimously in support of the Plan decison to deny the Shotliff rezoning. They said in effect that it was "when" not "whether" the land would go residential and that the "when" mattered.

Thus-------Evansville has just celebrated the TWO year anniversary of the Smart Growth Plan-----and only EIGHT years to go till any new subdivisons can be developed. Yes---as Mr. Connors went over this only 4 months after the plan was adopted---everything has been penciled in.

Can Whalen stick to the Plan? Can she allow the process to continue and listen or will she intervene and try to manipulate rather than lead the process? Stay tuned.

Click on the post to reveiw her performance at Union Board Meeting.

You make the call.