Manchester Residents Speak Out Against Business Location
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester residents on Westchester Drive are upset at the possibility of a business moving into their neighborhood.
Roger Burch owns a tract currently zoned residential at 1706 Westchester Drive. He requested at a plan commission meeting June 25 that his property be rezoned to business. With no neighbors present to oppose Burch's request, planners approved recommending the rezoning request to the town council.
But at Tuesday's town council meeting, several neighbors did attend to voice their opposition against the rezoning.
Burch said he's been trying to sell the property as residential since January with the only interest shown in the property being from an insurance company. He said at the plan commission meeting he thought he would have a better chance to sell the property if it were zoned business.
"It won't be a food company for sure," Burch said Tuesday. He said it would more than likely be a doctor's office, agency or something of that nature.
Oscar Robinson lives across the street from Burch's property. He told council members Tuesday he is opposed to a business in that location.
"Why do we need another business out there, anyway?" Robinson asked. "I'm almost surrounded by them."
Just to the north of Robinson's property is a Dairy Queen, Time-Out Inn and Liquid Assets liquor store. To the south of Robinson's property is a car wash and a McDonald's.
Elsie Geiser, who lives directly next to Burch's property, also is opposed to a business in the neighborhood. Geiser said she and her husband, Robert, built their home nearly 50 years ago and never thought a business would move in beside them. She said the driveway to the possible business would be right next to her yard.
Steve Olson, who lives down the road from Burch's property, said he, too, is opposed to a business coming to the neighborhood.
"We have several families with kids here," Olson said. "Our neighborhood's taken quite a bit of abuse."
Olson was referring to rezoning that took place to the south of homes in the neighborhood, including the car wash, McDonald's, the new Wetzel's Insurance and a Burger King now being constructed.
Olson asked council members to wait and see how these businesses do and to give them a chance to develop before approving another rezoning to business.
Kurt Hoffman, 1602 Westchester Drive, agreed with Olson.
"I have two small children and we have so much traffic going through here now," he said. "We feel like we're being boxed in and it's such a nice neighborhood."
Olson said traffic comes down Westchester Drive at approximately 50 mph now. He's concerned that with a business on the street, traffic may intensify.
Herb Underwood, 1501 Westchester Drive, also was concerned about a business locating in the neighborhood.
"Once business gets started, it spreads like wildfire," he said.
Underwood said he believes rezoning the tract to business would be a mistake. He also said rezoning a tract to business just because it hasn't sold as residential yet is not a valid excuse.
After hearing from remonstrators, council members decided to send the rezoning issue back to the planners for reconsideration and to give the neighbors a chance to speak to planners.
"I understand your concern and I think you're doing the right thing," Burch told council members.
The planners will make a recommendation to the council at their meeting July 17 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room on Main Street in the Public Safety Complex. Anyone wishing to comment on Burch's request will be given a chance to do so at this meeting.
In other business, councilmen:
• Approved the first reading for economic development bonds not to exceed $60 million to Peabody Retirement Community for expansion and improvements.
Mary Owens, director of development for Peabody, and Jim Ransomer, executive director for Peabody, presented information on construction plans, including a 15-minute video, to council members Tuesday.
Owens said the expansion project includes renovations of the health care center and the addition of a memory enhancement center and a health promotion center, including a warm water therapy pool, fitness center and rehabilitation center.
She also said Blessed Beginnings, the day care facility, will be expanded and approximately 20 more employees will be hired. New sidewalks also will be added along Ninth and Beckley streets, and all residents will have private rooms and bathrooms.
Ransomer said the expansion project will decrease the number of residents by 18, but that the project is not about expanding the number of residents.
"... It's about enhancing the quality of our services by a bunch to existing residents," he said.
Ransomer said $60 million is the maximum amount needed for the expansion project.
"We're really thinking $35 million," he said.
"Peabody has been a true asset to this community for years," council vice president Stan Escott said. He said he didn't have any problems with approving the bonds for Peabody.
The bonds were approved by council members, and town attorney Charles Tiede explained that the bonds will be issued in the name of the town, but the town has no liability.
• Heard information from Escott regarding changes in the town's spring cleanup ordinance.
New restrictions will be added to the town's ordinance, such as: hazardous materials, paint and loose materials not in containers or bunched/tied will not be picked up by the town; and cleanup will begin each year Monday, May 1 or the Monday of the week in which May 1 falls.
Fliers depicting restrictions will be distributed to each household two weeks prior to the spring cleanup starting date.
Council members approved the first reading of changes in the ordinance.
• Approved a request from Dick Miller, North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, to use the town truck and a town employee to pull the North Manchester float in several parades this summer. Miller said all of the parades are on Saturdays, and the three in July are in Fort Wayne, Peru and Wabash. The town employee who volunteers to drive the truck will be given compensatory time to use for a day off during the week.
The North Manchester Town Council includes: president Don Rinearson, vice president Stan Escott, Karl Merritt, Warren Garner, Charles Tiede and Bill Hix. Clerk-treasurer is Nancy Reed. Town manager is Dan Hannaford. Public works superintendent is John Mugford. Public safety director is Jack Fetrow, and plan commissioner is Bernie Ferringer. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester residents on Westchester Drive are upset at the possibility of a business moving into their neighborhood.
Roger Burch owns a tract currently zoned residential at 1706 Westchester Drive. He requested at a plan commission meeting June 25 that his property be rezoned to business. With no neighbors present to oppose Burch's request, planners approved recommending the rezoning request to the town council.
But at Tuesday's town council meeting, several neighbors did attend to voice their opposition against the rezoning.
Burch said he's been trying to sell the property as residential since January with the only interest shown in the property being from an insurance company. He said at the plan commission meeting he thought he would have a better chance to sell the property if it were zoned business.
"It won't be a food company for sure," Burch said Tuesday. He said it would more than likely be a doctor's office, agency or something of that nature.
Oscar Robinson lives across the street from Burch's property. He told council members Tuesday he is opposed to a business in that location.
"Why do we need another business out there, anyway?" Robinson asked. "I'm almost surrounded by them."
Just to the north of Robinson's property is a Dairy Queen, Time-Out Inn and Liquid Assets liquor store. To the south of Robinson's property is a car wash and a McDonald's.
Elsie Geiser, who lives directly next to Burch's property, also is opposed to a business in the neighborhood. Geiser said she and her husband, Robert, built their home nearly 50 years ago and never thought a business would move in beside them. She said the driveway to the possible business would be right next to her yard.
Steve Olson, who lives down the road from Burch's property, said he, too, is opposed to a business coming to the neighborhood.
"We have several families with kids here," Olson said. "Our neighborhood's taken quite a bit of abuse."
Olson was referring to rezoning that took place to the south of homes in the neighborhood, including the car wash, McDonald's, the new Wetzel's Insurance and a Burger King now being constructed.
Olson asked council members to wait and see how these businesses do and to give them a chance to develop before approving another rezoning to business.
Kurt Hoffman, 1602 Westchester Drive, agreed with Olson.
"I have two small children and we have so much traffic going through here now," he said. "We feel like we're being boxed in and it's such a nice neighborhood."
Olson said traffic comes down Westchester Drive at approximately 50 mph now. He's concerned that with a business on the street, traffic may intensify.
Herb Underwood, 1501 Westchester Drive, also was concerned about a business locating in the neighborhood.
"Once business gets started, it spreads like wildfire," he said.
Underwood said he believes rezoning the tract to business would be a mistake. He also said rezoning a tract to business just because it hasn't sold as residential yet is not a valid excuse.
After hearing from remonstrators, council members decided to send the rezoning issue back to the planners for reconsideration and to give the neighbors a chance to speak to planners.
"I understand your concern and I think you're doing the right thing," Burch told council members.
The planners will make a recommendation to the council at their meeting July 17 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room on Main Street in the Public Safety Complex. Anyone wishing to comment on Burch's request will be given a chance to do so at this meeting.
In other business, councilmen:
• Approved the first reading for economic development bonds not to exceed $60 million to Peabody Retirement Community for expansion and improvements.
Mary Owens, director of development for Peabody, and Jim Ransomer, executive director for Peabody, presented information on construction plans, including a 15-minute video, to council members Tuesday.
Owens said the expansion project includes renovations of the health care center and the addition of a memory enhancement center and a health promotion center, including a warm water therapy pool, fitness center and rehabilitation center.
She also said Blessed Beginnings, the day care facility, will be expanded and approximately 20 more employees will be hired. New sidewalks also will be added along Ninth and Beckley streets, and all residents will have private rooms and bathrooms.
Ransomer said the expansion project will decrease the number of residents by 18, but that the project is not about expanding the number of residents.
"... It's about enhancing the quality of our services by a bunch to existing residents," he said.
Ransomer said $60 million is the maximum amount needed for the expansion project.
"We're really thinking $35 million," he said.
"Peabody has been a true asset to this community for years," council vice president Stan Escott said. He said he didn't have any problems with approving the bonds for Peabody.
The bonds were approved by council members, and town attorney Charles Tiede explained that the bonds will be issued in the name of the town, but the town has no liability.
• Heard information from Escott regarding changes in the town's spring cleanup ordinance.
New restrictions will be added to the town's ordinance, such as: hazardous materials, paint and loose materials not in containers or bunched/tied will not be picked up by the town; and cleanup will begin each year Monday, May 1 or the Monday of the week in which May 1 falls.
Fliers depicting restrictions will be distributed to each household two weeks prior to the spring cleanup starting date.
Council members approved the first reading of changes in the ordinance.
• Approved a request from Dick Miller, North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, to use the town truck and a town employee to pull the North Manchester float in several parades this summer. Miller said all of the parades are on Saturdays, and the three in July are in Fort Wayne, Peru and Wabash. The town employee who volunteers to drive the truck will be given compensatory time to use for a day off during the week.
The North Manchester Town Council includes: president Don Rinearson, vice president Stan Escott, Karl Merritt, Warren Garner, Charles Tiede and Bill Hix. Clerk-treasurer is Nancy Reed. Town manager is Dan Hannaford. Public works superintendent is John Mugford. Public safety director is Jack Fetrow, and plan commissioner is Bernie Ferringer. [[In-content Ad]]