COLUMBUS, Ind. — A concept plan outlining a potential future for nearly 700 acres of westside property owned by Columbus Regional Hospital is one step closer to approval.
The Columbus Plan Commission voted Wednesday to give a favorable recommendation to Columbus City Council regarding the adoption of the City View District Plan as an element of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which provides guidance for future land use and development in the community.
The council will make the final determination on the plan’s adoption. City/county planning director Jeff Bergman said that the matter will likely go before them on Sept. 5.
The commission’s vote was 6-1, with member Dennis Baute voting against the motion. He said that while he is not necessarily against the plan, he would like to hear more public input on the concept and doesn’t feel that it’s ready for adoption, given questions around certain matters such as flood hazards.
“We’re not ready, not near, I don’t think,” Baute said.
Commission members Zack Ellison and Julie Abedian recused themselves from the discussion and vote due to their respective connections with CRH. Ellison is a member of the hospital’s board, and Abedian is CRH’s executive vice president and chief community impact officer.
The City View District Plan addresses the site also known as the Garden City Farms property, which stretches east-to-west from Interstate 65 almost to State Road 11/Jonesville Road, and is south of the westside Walmart and north of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. The approximately 690-acre site is owned by CRH.
For the complete story, see Friday’s Republic.
