OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Evansville, Indiana/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Evansville Area Plan Commission Meeting - October 1, 2026

City Council — Thursday, October 1, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, October 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:38:32

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:03

Well we have a new assistant building commissioner.

Unassigned speaker

0:07

We have a new assistant building commissioner.

Unassigned speaker

0:10

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1

0:11

Yeah.

0:11

That needs to be trained.

0:15

No, uh I think it's some guy some body from the military.

0:20

Yeah,

Speaker 2

0:21

it used to be military.

0:22

Oh my god, is that no one for you?

0:26

What is it?

0:26

Mark

Speaker 1

0:27

something?

Speaker 2

0:27

Yeah, it is.

0:28

Something like that.

0:29

Mark something.

0:30

Lever.

0:36

Well, he find uh he signed a air conditioning heating contractor uh for changing out an evaporator coil.

0:45

And the evaporator coil he was changing out would have been over $500 change and would have required a permit.

0:52

But it was a warranty job.

0:54

Well it wasn't an actual and then while he was at it, he informed them that we are Bill.

1:14

You got uh just a residential construction and that on computerized, is that right?

1:18

Definitely the exam.

1:20

Can you if we give you the questions and answers?

1:24

Can you computer our

Speaker 3

1:30

stepping on anybody's toes?

1:31

Okay,

Speaker 2

1:32

I'll

Speaker 3

1:32

get them.

1:33

It is slick.

Speaker 2

1:35

The

Speaker 3

1:35

system is slick.

Speaker 2

1:37

It is good.

1:38

Who's doing that?

1:39

Or you haven't attempted it yet?

Speaker 3

1:40

We had a website built.

1:41

Oh,

Speaker 2

1:42

I think.

1:42

You can take it

Speaker 3

1:42

anywhere.

1:43

It's got software that can tell it's a cheap.

Unassigned speaker

1:47

Yeah,

Speaker 2

1:48

we were starting talking about just doing over paper and paper and paper.

1:56

I'll come to you guys or you come to me and we'll step on everything we got.

2:01

How it works and everything.

2:03

You guys can control your questions.

2:05

I don't decide anything.

2:06

I just I mean we got the website

Speaker 3

2:08

built, and it can take unlimited number of questions to be unlimited number tests.

2:14

So you can fill up our you can change it any time.

Speaker 2

2:17

We need uh we need a master journeyman, HBAC and then a local uh master refrigeration.

2:28

I haven't got everything done, but I've got the master refrigeration attorney basically done celebrities.

Speaker 3

2:37

Yeah, well, we can take it from there on.

2:40

Seriously.

2:41

Do you have the qu how do you have the questions in Excel?

Speaker 2

2:44

Uh no, it's just word documents.

2:49

It's a word document.

Speaker 3

2:51

Do you have the question and one answer or do you have the question and four answers?

Speaker 2

2:56

Four answers.

2:56

Do you?

2:57

Multiple choice.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Variance██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Subdivision Regulations██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Safety██████6%
Affordable Housing████4%
Personnel Matters██2%
Public Engagement██2%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Land Use Planning█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Evansville Area Plan Commission Meeting - October 1, 2026

The Area Plan Commission of Evansville and Vanderburgh County met on October 1, 2026 at 2:40 PM in the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order after roll call, and the September memorandum was approved unanimously. The commission heard four city rezoning petitions, one county rezoning petition, one subdivision plat, and one sidewalk waiver request. All items except one rezoning (which was continued) were recommended for approval to the appropriate governing body.

City Rezonings

Docket REZ-2026-003 (2713 Jeanette Avenue) – R1 to M2 with UDC

  • Petitioner: Estate of Ronald Lee Strahl, represented by Joshua Claiborne and Sean Straw.
  • Request to rezone from R1 to M2 for an auto repair shop, storage yard, and related uses. The property had a legal nonconforming status from a 1983 court order, but staff determined that status was nullified when a new pole barn replaced a burned structure. Neighbors have complained for decades.
  • During discussion, commissioners noted that salvage yard uses require a Special Use 9 permit, which was not included in the UDC. Petitioners stated they intend to clean up the site and would seek the special use if needed.
  • Vote: Motion to approve passed 6-1 (Commissioner Nix opposed). Recommendation to City Council.

Docket REZ-2026-028 (3524 Kratzville Road) – M1 to R2

  • Petitioner: Happy Storage LLC, represented by Krista Lock.
  • Request to rezone from M1 to R2 to remove legal nonconforming status on a single-family residence.
  • Staff noted consistency with comprehensive plan.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (7-0). Recommendation to City Council.

Docket REZ-2026-029 (5100 East Morgan Avenue) – C2 to M1 with UDC

  • Petitioner: Ton Properties, represented by Matt Layman.
  • Request to rezone former Applebee’s for auto sales, repair, and detail. UDC limited uses but petitioner also wanted to include engine overhaul and painting (Use Group 14), which were omitted from the filed UDC.
  • Discussion: Commissioner noted that the UDC would need to be amended to include Use Group 14. The commission voted to waive the amendment fee and continue the petition to the next meeting for refiling.
  • Vote: Motion to waive fees and continue passed 7-0.

Docket REZ-2026-030 (1500 North Heidelbach Avenue) – M2 to R5 with UDC

  • Petitioner: Oolite Management Services LLC, represented by Dylan Murphy and Tom Garvey.
  • Request to rezone a brownfield site for a 63-unit affordable workforce housing development (up to four stories). UDC prohibits various incompatible uses. Staff noted consistency with comprehensive plan.
  • Commissioner questions about parking were answered; no variances needed.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (7-0). Recommendation to City Council.

County Rezonings

Docket REZ-2026-027 (18601 North US Highway 41) – M2 w/UDC to M2 w/amended UDC

  • Petitioner: SIGECO/Center Point Energy, represented by Storm Kolek.
  • Request to amend UDC to add indoor storage for equipment and materials for utility projects, including off-site. The property currently has a solar field.
  • Staff found consistency with comprehensive plan.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (7-0). Recommendation to County Commissioners.

Subdivisions

Docket MAJ-2026-009 Poet Square Section 5 (Replat)

  • Location: 15400 Reading Drive. Proposal to subdivide one large lot into five lots for a 42-unit apartment building and four duplexes (8 units), bringing total to maximum 210 units allowed by prior UDC.
  • Public comment: Joseph Fisher, a resident, expressed concerns about parking and traffic with only one access point. Petitioner Jim Morley (joining late) explained parking exceeds code and duplexes have garages.
  • Staff condition: Update drainage maintenance notes subject to county engineer approval.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (7-0).

Sidewalk Waiver

Docket WAV-2026-004 Old Farm

  • Petitioner: Parkway Improvements LLC, represented by Scott Beadle and Ryan Lewis.
  • Request for partial sidewalk waiver on University Parkway, Roesner Road, and north side of Road #1. Petitioner proposed a 6.5-foot wide shared-use path on south side of Road #1 instead of standard sidewalks. County engineer and MPO recommended 8-10 feet.
  • Discussion: Commissioners favored an 8-foot minimum for safety. Petitioner argued 6.5 feet is adequate and common in other areas. Motion: Approve the waivers requested but require the trail on south side of Road #1 to be 8 feet wide.
  • Vote: Motion passed 7-0 (Commissioner Pedtke voted yes on the waiver despite not favoring 8 feet).

Key Outcomes

  • All seven voting items (four city rezoning recommendations, one county rezoning recommendation, one subdivision plat, and one sidewalk waiver) were approved or continued as noted.
  • Docket REZ-2026-029 was continued to the next meeting with waiver of amendment fees.
  • The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM in the Civic Center Complex.

Meeting Transcript

Well we have a new assistant building commissioner. We have a new assistant building commissioner. Oh yeah. Yeah. That needs to be trained. No, uh I think it's some guy some body from the military. Yeah, it used to be military. Oh my god, is that no one for you? What is it? Mark something? Yeah, it is. Something like that. Mark something. Lever. Well, he find uh he signed a air conditioning heating contractor uh for changing out an evaporator coil. And the evaporator coil he was changing out would have been over $500 change and would have required a permit. But it was a warranty job. Well it wasn't an actual and then while he was at it, he informed them that we are Bill. You got uh just a residential construction and that on computerized, is that right? Definitely the exam. Can you if we give you the questions and answers? Can you computer our stepping on anybody's toes? Okay, I'll get them. It is slick. The system is slick. It is good. Who's doing that? Or you haven't attempted it yet? We had a website built. Oh, I think. You can take it anywhere. It's got software that can tell it's a cheap. Yeah, we were starting talking about just doing over paper and paper and paper. I'll come to you guys or you come to me and we'll step on everything we got. How it works and everything. You guys can control your questions. I don't decide anything. I just I mean we got the website built, and it can take unlimited number of questions to be unlimited number tests. So you can fill up our you can change it any time. We need uh we need a master journeyman, HBAC and then a local uh master refrigeration.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com