OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Meeting – May 12, 2026: Rezoning Denied, TIFF Amendment Fails, Clark's Landing Update

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodyClarksville, Indiana
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:50:37

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

She's not gonna be here for this part.

0:11

Good evening.

0:12

I'd like to welcome everyone to our May 12th council meeting this evening.

0:17

And at this time, before we do our invocation, before we do our pledge, I'd like Councilman Bob Stotz to introduce our invocation.

0:26

Yes, we'd like to we're proud to introduce uh Scott Lawler with uh return church to do our invocation.

0:38

Welcome back.

0:39

Hello, good evening, everybody.

0:40

How's everyone doing tonight?

0:42

Before I pray, if we could all just have a moment of silence for all of our service members, just to honor them, please.

0:55

Thank you.

0:56

We all agree upon that, don't we?

0:58

All right.

0:59

Prayer.

1:00

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and the opportunity to rest to gather together in service to this community.

1:05

Grant us wisdom, integrity, understanding to every person in the city council meeting.

1:13

Help.

1:14

Help each decision be guided by fairness, compassion, and design for the good of all people.

1:19

Bring peace, unity, and respect to every conversation tonight.

1:24

And we all say in the mighty mighty name of Jesus.

1:27

I'm in the wrong way.

1:30

Thank you.

1:31

Thank you very much.

1:32

Could we rise for our pledge?

1:41

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:56

No public hearings.

2:03

Okay, we'll get that under control shortly.

2:06

I hope.

2:07

We don't have any recognitions or appointments this evening.

2:10

We're gonna have our public comments.

2:13

Um I'm gonna call all of these, and you're welcome to speak.

2:18

I know there's a majority of the speakers are here regarding the Taylor Drive issue.

2:24

And if after we've heard a couple and you think that pretty much sums up what I wanted to say, just let me know and we can bypass the next speaker, or if you have some new information and you feel like you want to be heard, feel free.

2:38

We'll listen to everyone for sure.

2:40

So we'll go ahead and start this evening.

2:42

I sometimes have a hard time reading a few of these names.

2:46

Uh we have Jim who is here this evening.

2:49

Is it Lennon?

2:53

Line.

2:56

Uh yeah, and everyone that speaks will have you'll have two minutes.

2:59

Two minutes.

3:00

Yeah.

3:02

If you go a little over, I might be lenient, but uh we'll try to stick keep it to two minutes.

3:07

You'll hear the alarm go off at that time and just kind of wrap it up as best you can.

3:11

All right.

3:11

Uh all right, thank you.

3:13

I had a speech prepared, but I'm not gonna do it in two, so I'll add Lib.

3:16

Um is that mic on the test your mic there for us?

3:23

Okay, very might have to get a little closer.

3:26

All right, gotcha.

3:27

So I live at 2813 Victory Court, which is on the corner of Victory Court in Providence.

3:32

Um we've already had all sorts of well, a couple of different issues with the sidewalk that's been recently installed.

3:38

Uh my wife has been yelled at by a random homeless man while she was mowing the lawn.

3:42

That was a couple weeks ago, and now a cell phone from one of my children's friends got stolen out of my yard.

3:48

Uh that thankfully got resolved when we called the man that stole it uh and had the police involved, and he thankfully brought it back where he was handcuffed in our yard in front of my kids.

3:59

But the guardian of the friend did not want to press charges, which is fine, but I would have.

4:04

Uh in regardless, I feel our sidewalk has already made my personal property a lot less safe.

4:10

And now, if we're going to add another 21, 25, what whatever it is, 20 residents to the back of our neighborhood in rental properties.

4:21

There's no way that's going to make our neighborhood anywhere, anywhere, any way safer uh than it currently is.

4:28

So I'm asking that you guys decline this in uh hopes of keeping our neighborhood safe and our children safe, especially on Taylor, which is an extraordinarily narrow road.

4:39

Uh someone who's a truck driver, I don't think I could get my truck down that road uh to deliver things like cabinets, and I only drive a 20-foot box truck.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation████████████████████████24%
Economic Development████████████████16%
Procedural████████████12%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Zoning Variance████████8%
Public Safety████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Clarksville Town Council Meeting – May 12, 2026

The Clarksville Town Council held its regular meeting on May 12, 2026, at 11:15 AM (EDT), followed by a work session. The meeting included public comments, approval of routine items, debate on a TIFF amendment, and a vote on rezoning 3165 Taylor Drive. The work session featured a middle school STEM presentation and a major redevelopment proposal for the former Colgate campus (Clark's Landing).

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from April 21, 2026 (regular meeting, work session, executive session).
  • Approved claims (current and pre-written), wastewater sewer claims and bonds, grants, payroll, and placement of file. All passed 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jim (2813 Victory Court): Opposed the Taylor Drive development, citing safety concerns after a sidewalk incident and theft. Stated a 20-foot box truck cannot navigate the narrow road.
  • Thomas White (last house on Beach Lawn Drive): Stated he and a dozen neighbors are 100% opposed; noted that under R3 zoning, up to 82 units could be built, changing the neighborhood.
  • Rhonda Curd (Taylor Drive, 25+ years): Opposed development; described the Everhart property's history and asked who would pay for damage to Taylor Drive from construction traffic.
  • Jason Price (2118 Blackston Mill Road): Requested a sidewalk on Blackston Mill Road, citing pedestrian danger and high vehicle speeds; also asked for police enforcement.
  • Steve Blake (2710 Hollywood Boulevard): Supported neighbor's right to keep ducks under chicken-like regulations; noted four ducks is reasonable.
  • Pat Smith (2706 Hollywood Boulevard): Supported ducks as good pets, no nuisance.
  • Brenda Molina (3136 Taylor Drive): Expressed concern as a realtor and resident; stated the neighborhood has only 71 homes, roads are narrow, and a 30+ unit development would add 150–200 vehicle trips daily.
  • Betty Herrick (3010 Taylor Drive): Described decades of problems with adjacent Pioneer Village Apartments (dumpster noise, fires, property damage, domestic disputes) and opposed adding more density.
  • Randall Eidens (502 Graham Street): Requested the Taylor Drive rezoning be tabled to present verified facts to council.
  • Janet Brummett (1718 Godford Road): Criticized the applicant for presenting an incomplete plan (retention pond, parking not drawn); urged denial due to Taylor Drive's 22-foot width.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7.1 – Floodway Habitat Mitigation Easement: Approval of $88,000 perpetual easement for tree/shrub planting in Silver Creek floodway. Passed 6-0.
  • Item 7.2 – Settlement Agreement with Nicholas Landing: Resolved 2024 PILOT tax exemption filing dispute; $50,000 payment to town. Passed 6-0.
  • Item 7.3 – Insurance Broker of Record: Assured Partners recommended as town's broker after RFQ process. Passed 6-0.
  • Item 7.4 – Interlocal Agreement with Clark County for Potters Lane Paving: Resolution 2026 R08. Passed 6-0.
  • Item 7.5 – Commercial Economic Development Area Plan Amendment (TIFF): Proposed allowing TIFF funds for police and fire operating expenses. Councilmembers debated. Vote: 3-3 (President McEwen broke tie against), failed 4-3.
  • Item 7.6 – Rezoning 3165 Taylor Drive (R1 to R3): Plan Commission recommended unfavorable (7-0). Council moved to deny; passed 6-0 after extensive public opposition.
  • Item 7.7 – Rezoning 208 West Cornell Drive (I-1 to R1): Plan Commission recommended favorable (6-1). Passed 6-0.
  • Item 7.8 – Rezoning 1420 Baxter Avenue (B2 to Veterans Parkway Corridor): Passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Taylor Drive rezoning denied (6-0), preserving R1 zoning.
  • TIFF amendment defeated (4-3), leaving current fund uses unchanged. Clerk-Treasurer Stonecypher noted the town faces a budget gap and only three meetings remain to submit the 2027 preliminary budget.
  • Work Session – Middle School STEM Presentation: Planning Director Neil Turpin and Associate Planner Kaylee Malloy recognized Clarksville Middle School students for designing Clark's Landing in Minecraft. Awards given for Outstanding Urban Planning, Best Practices in Green Space, and Best Practice in Placemaking.
  • Work Session – Clark's Landing (Colgate Campus) Redevelopment: Bill Wayland and Barry Alberts (Wayland Ventures) and Jim Epperson (Southern Indiana Tourism) presented plans for a $400–500 million mixed-use development including a conference center (in historic building), Marriott hotel (175 rooms), retail, residential, youth sports facilities (indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball), and public green spaces. The project would rely on a project-based TIF and state/federal tax credits. Council suspended rules and unanimously approved Resolution 2026 R10 supporting the project, allowing an IEDC grant application for pre-development funds.

Clerk-Treasurer Report

  • State Board of Accounts conducting annual audit; report expected next month.
  • 54 public records requests year-to-date; seven pending; online portal now active.
  • Reminded council of the 10th annual Memorial Weekend Ceremony on May 24 at 2 PM in the garden.

Meeting Transcript

She's not gonna be here for this part. Good evening. I'd like to welcome everyone to our May 12th council meeting this evening. And at this time, before we do our invocation, before we do our pledge, I'd like Councilman Bob Stotz to introduce our invocation. Yes, we'd like to we're proud to introduce uh Scott Lawler with uh return church to do our invocation. Welcome back. Hello, good evening, everybody. How's everyone doing tonight? Before I pray, if we could all just have a moment of silence for all of our service members, just to honor them, please. Thank you. We all agree upon that, don't we? All right. Prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and the opportunity to rest to gather together in service to this community. Grant us wisdom, integrity, understanding to every person in the city council meeting. Help. Help each decision be guided by fairness, compassion, and design for the good of all people. Bring peace, unity, and respect to every conversation tonight. And we all say in the mighty mighty name of Jesus. I'm in the wrong way. Thank you. Thank you very much. Could we rise for our pledge? And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. No public hearings. Okay, we'll get that under control shortly. I hope. We don't have any recognitions or appointments this evening. We're gonna have our public comments. Um I'm gonna call all of these, and you're welcome to speak. I know there's a majority of the speakers are here regarding the Taylor Drive issue. And if after we've heard a couple and you think that pretty much sums up what I wanted to say, just let me know and we can bypass the next speaker, or if you have some new information and you feel like you want to be heard, feel free. We'll listen to everyone for sure. So we'll go ahead and start this evening. I sometimes have a hard time reading a few of these names. Uh we have Jim who is here this evening. Is it Lennon? Line. Uh yeah, and everyone that speaks will have you'll have two minutes. Two minutes. Yeah. If you go a little over, I might be lenient, but uh we'll try to stick keep it to two minutes. You'll hear the alarm go off at that time and just kind of wrap it up as best you can. All right. Uh all right, thank you. I had a speech prepared, but I'm not gonna do it in two, so I'll add Lib. Um is that mic on the test your mic there for us? Okay, very might have to get a little closer. All right, gotcha. So I live at 2813 Victory Court, which is on the corner of Victory Court in Providence.

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