A developer’s request to rezone land on Columbus’ west side for duplexes in the Tipton Lakes area has been rejected.
The Columbus City Council on Tuesday voted 5-2 to deny the rezoning of 26.79 acres of land for the development of 20 duplexes targeted to individuals 55 and older. City Councilmen Tim Shuffett and Frank Miller were the two lone votes in support.
More than 60 people turned out for the discussion and decision on the Village of Tipton Lakes, many of them homeowners who live near the site that had been targeted for duplexes.
Residents in the Spring Hill and Heron Cove subdivisions voiced concerns to the council about the project, particularly a lack of communication from the developer. Council members said they recognized the opposition that the proposal had generated.
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The negative vote by the council followed a favorable recommendation in July from the Columbus Plan Commission for Spring Hill Lake Development to rezone the property.
“The biggest obstacle is that every property owner living there is against it,” City Councilman Frank Jerome said.
City Councilwoman Elaine Wagner said while there is a need for housing in Columbus targeted to individuals 55 and older, she asked her fellow council members not to support the rezoning because residents didn’t back it.
“I can’t support this for that reason,” she said.
Resident John Hines was among a dozen people who spoke regarding the duplexes to the council, many of them in opposition. A petition with signatures from residents in Spring Hill and Heron Cove opposing the rezoning was among information presented to the council.
“I hope those voices are heard by you and considered,” Hines said.
Fellow resident Ashish Gupta, who has lived in the Heron Cove subdivision for more than five years, also spoke.
“In my opinion, this is a great project, but this location is best suited for single-family homes,” Gupta said.
Two individuals spoke in favor of the development. They included Don Michael, chief operating officer of Tipton Lakes Co., the company that operated from 1981 to 2016 to develop the Tipton Lakes area.
Michael said 41 different neighborhoods have been developed in Tipton Lakes over the years, including apartments, condominiums and duplexes, adding that the duplexes proposed by Spring Hill Lake Development would be a good fit.
“I think it’s appropriate,” Michael said.
The project would also be good for the city, said Dan Slattery, board president of the Tipton Lakes Community Association, which recently voted to support the Village of Tipton Lakes development.
Land developer Jeffrey Bush also briefly spoke about the project prior to the vote, which came following a motion by Jerome that was seconded by Wagner.
Wagner said after the meeting she decided to vote to deny the rezoning because residents’ concerns were not addressed by the developer.
That sentiment was shared by council member Tom Dell, who said it appeared there was a breakdown in communication between the developer and residents.
Shuffett said he supported the project since he believes that type of housing is needed in Columbus.
Miller said his vote was based strictly on the decision criteria the council was asked to consider, adding that he believed the project met all the requirements.
“That is a very subjective criteria,” Miller said. “By not using that criteria, we’re setting a precedent for voting however we want. I’m not judging whether this is the right property, but the zoning criteria was met.”
Bush, the land developer, said he was disappointed in the council’s decision.
“We heard what the people said,” Bush said. “You don’t always get everything in life.”
An informational meeting about rezoning for the Village of Tipton Lakes project planned at 6 p.m. today at Fire Station No. 5 on Goeller Avenue was canceled.
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Columbus City Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution to provide $750,000 in tax increment financing funds to the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.
This is the third straight year BCSC has received funding, which will go toward the district’s iGrad program, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and transition planning for special needs students to help them transition into the workforce or further their education.
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