Fort Wayne City Council approved the rezoning of a half-acre of land at 2802 and 2810 Indiana Ave. from single-family to multi-family use Tuesday night.
The change was approved despite more than an hour’s worth of debate.
At issue was a 2005 neighborhood plan drawn up by the Packard Area Planning Alliance that included a rezoning of the general area for single-family residences. That plan included these two homes, and the area was officially rezoned two years later.
The area represented by the alliance can be found off of Broadway near Creighton, on Fort Wayne’s southeast side.
Kody Tinnel is the president of Packard Area Planning Alliance. He says the 2005 plan is still used as guidance by the neighborhood, as it focuses on downsizing homes for single-family use.
“This proposal would run perfectly counter to the recommendations of this plan. So from that standpoint and several others, we are strongly opposed to this. PAPA does not have many unanimous decisions but this was one of those, where all neighborhoods were in agreement.”
Still, Council approved the rezoning on a 6-2 vote. The body supported the owner of those properties for the potential to change the property from single- to multi-family use, but with acknowledgement over the complexities and unintended consequences to residents that may come with it. 2nd District Republican Russ Jehl abstained from the vote, but was involved in the discussion.
Fort Wayne’s Plan Commission recommended the approval to Council unanimously.
An additional measure that aims to provide body cameras for Fort Wayne police officers was introduced and passed for further discussion; that conversation will take place on Tuesday, July 28, and may have bipartisan support.
