UPDATED 5-6-25 12: 20PM: Zoning Board recommends approval of unpopular variance request & refers it to City Aldermen
UPDATED 12 noon 5-6/25: NEMiss.News has received information that builder Jose Medina has withdrawn his request for rezoning the property under discussion. We are sure the Northside community thanks him for that. However this issue has brought to light some zoning regulations that need to be addressed by the Board of Aldermen.
ORIGINAL POST:
After the rapid approval of four uncontested zoning requests, the City of New Albany Zoning Board addressed a zoning variance request from builder Jose Medina. The properties under discussion are adjoining lots that form a corner intersection at Madison and Cleveland. The lots have been cleared, graded and covered with dirt in preparation for construction. They currently bear signs advertising the variance request.
Medina has requested that the Zoning Board approve a change in the current zoning to one that will allow for two duplexes to be placed at each site. This will be a total of four new dwellings on the corner location.
In his opening remarks, Mark McClinton stated that they would hear any input the dozen or so people attending the meeting might have. However, he pointed out that regulations only allow them to take into consideration information that comes from those who own property within 150 feet of the building sites. Only one person at the meeting lived within 150 feet of the property, and he expressed strong opposition to allowing the variance.
There was about an hour of discussion that ranged through many questions, opinions, and complaints about the process and the outcomes that are possible or likely to occur in the historic neighborhood. Bethany Dalton presented information about Northside’s approval as a Historic District, as well as photos of parking issues. About a dozen community members expressed concerns included parking, possible problems with multiple family rentals, increased congestion of the neighborhood’s narrow streets, infrastructure stresses, possible delays of emergency vehicles to fires, medical emergencies, etc.
Board members repeated several times that “precedents had already been set” that dictated their response to new requests. There was much discussion of those precedent-setting decisions: how those precedents were similar or possibly dissimilar to this situation; whether they had been adequately advertised to the community in the past; where the actual decision-making ability resides when conflicts arise, etc.
Board members stated that they basically can’t provide relief on this issue, because duplexes have already been allowed into the neighborhood. Neighborhood members questioned whether those past precedents were a good enough reason to allow four dwellings on one corner. They are concerned with the many issues that are likely to result from rampant multiple dwelling construction on the numerous vacant lots in Northside.
Eventually, the Board voted to allow the variance, with only one member voting “no.” The basic explanation boiled down to the fact that Medina’s request doesn’t conflict with current zoning regulations, and he has presented a “parking plan.”
McClinton stated more than once during the evening that a different decision would require a code change, which is the responsibility of the City Board of Aldermen. The issue of this variance is expected to be part of the agenda for today’s City Board of Aldermen meeting. Alderman are expected to set a future public hearing date.
Persons interested in the burgeoning multiple family development in the historic Northside neighborhood (or in any other neighborhood) are encouraged to attend the Board of Aldermen meeting this evening at 5:30 at City Hall, and to plan to attend any public hearings on the matter.
