Published: May 09, 2008 12:02 am            

Rezoning ordinance receives Council OK

Controversial issues allows two businesses to expand

TERRE HAUTE — Two local businesses are expected to expand after the Terre Haute City Council approved zoning ordinances.

Little Hands Child Care & Preschool at 500 Barton Ave., is taking on a house to add to its two-house facility. The new house is at 501 S. 23rd St.

At least 30 people filled the City Hall courtroom pews to support the day care’s expansion. Council members were presented with packets holding letters in favor of the expansion from neighbors and customers.

Elaine Pies, who lives next door to the facility, said when she moved there about 10 months ago she was concerned about things such as noise and parking, but hasn’t found either to be a problem.

As a teacher, she told the council that she leaves for school about the same time many parents drop their children off and was never inconvenienced.

Gregg Tanner, who lives north of the facility, didn’t agree. He presented the council with a petition signed by at least 20 others who were against the expansion as well as pictures for proof about his concerns of parking and noise.

He spoke about how employees don’t use designated parking and complained about the noise that comes every morning and evening when children are picked up and dropped off. Tanner also was concerned about what could happen at the property with no one there overnight or on weekends.

“We are not anti-children, anti-baby,” he told the council, noting they just didn’t want the day care to expand from a two-facility business to a three-facility business.

Council members, in a unanimous vote, approved the necessary rezoning for the day care to expand. Audience members cheered after the vote.

George Azar, D-at large, commended the owner, Amanda Bolin for having the “most organized effort I’ve seen on a day care,” adding that he went by the day care Thursday and wouldn’t have been able to find it had he not been looking for it.

Also expanding is McDonald’s at 2111 Lafayette Ave. The fast-food restaurant plans to rebuild the restaurant and add a dual drive-through window.

Council members Jim Chalos, D-at large, and Norm Loudermilk, D-3rd, voted against this ordinance.

Loudermilk explained that it’s difficult enough for people to get out of the restaurants on “Hamburger Alley” without adding a dual drive-through, which would give McDonald’s more business. Until Lafayette Avenue can be expanded, he said he would even vote no to a new restaurant in that area.

Plans are in the works to expand Lafayette Avenue though the project has only $300,000 of the $6 million to $7 million it’s expected to cost to complete.

In other news, the council unanimously voted in favor of two ordinances that will prohibit pollutants from entering storm water drainage systems. Both ordinances are required by state administrative law, and are designed to keep pollutants such as hazardous and non-hazardous liquids and waste, paint and motor oils from being dumped into city storm water drains.

These ordinances only apply to areas where storm and waste water drainage are separated.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.

        

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