University Parkway Development - Smart Growth?

General Meeting
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Bishea Building, Burdette Park

President Linda Cleek called the meeting to order at 8 p.m.

Attending: Bernhardt, Don; Berning, Dot; Berning, Terry; Cleek, Linda; Craig, Steve; Day, Donald; Farmer, Paul; Gerteisen, Mary Jude; Gerteisen, Wayne; Harp, Mike; Harty, Bill; James, Shirley; Jeffers, Bill; Jeffers, Brenda; Kolb, Bonnie; Meyer, Greg; Moers, Joyce; Padget, Fred; Sanders, August “Gus”; Sanders, Betty; Stagg, Carolyn; Stensaas, Dave; Thompson, George; Wentzel, Sam

Guest Speakers: Shirley James, Chair for the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage

Dave Stensaas, Transportation Planner for Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), formerly Evansville Urban Transportation Study (EUTS)

Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the February 16, 2006, meeting were not submitted for approval.

Treasurer’s Report: Fred Padget presented the treasurer’s report for the month of April 2006. Padget also passed out the budget for the calendar year 2006. In addition, Padget presented a report that compared finances from the years 1997-2005.

Program: Shirley James, Chair of the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage, talked with those present about West Franklin/Casino Greenway extension. The Greenway Passage is a 42-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that encircles the county and is tied to the American Discovery Trail.

The completion of the West Franklin/Casino extension has been delayed because the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) lost a $94,000 matching grant check. This mishap delayed the completion of the Fulton Avenue to West Franklin portion by two months. James is hopeful that construction will start within the next few days. Some of the items to address are:

• repair of brown fields

• renovate derelict buildings

• recharge commercial districts

• restore Ohio Street Bridge to its original look

• use Ohio Street Bridge as an overlook with park setting on each side of creek displaying various art forms and statuary

• replace 400 new trees to replace those few trees removed

Indiana is giving $500,000 toward the Industrial Pavilion. The Pavilion will display how industry was important toward building Evansville. This exhibit will be shown at the general waste site.

James reported that currently an average of 500 people a day enjoy the Riverfront Greenway extension.  Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette Park, talked about the bicycle and walking path that will connect USI and Burdette Park. Craig said that 13 years ago USI, then Indiana State University Evansville (ISUE), was trying to get access to and from Burdette Park. The new bike/pedestrian/nature trail will start from the existing student housing through the sports complex, across Broadway, along the old stone quarry, leading to the BMX track and Discovery Lodge and, possibly, tying into the Greenway in downtown Evansville. The trail from USI to Burdette will measure approximately two miles.

Craig introduced Steve Stensaas, Transportation Planner for MPO. Stensaas used plotted maps to show how the paved roads in Union Township have been routed for use as a bicycle path. The bike path has four routes with varying levels of difficulty. Signage includes routing and hazard warning signs for cyclists. In addition, bike racks are available at the Dogtown Tavern trailhead.

Stensaas spoke about developing a network of trails to promote interconnectivity countywide. A question/answer session followed with discussion about some problems regarding traffic, trains, gravel, etc.

Announcements and Comments

• Moers talked about the WIA picnic scheduled for Saturday, September 16, at Burdette Park Shelter House #13. Activities begin at 12 noon with lunch being served at 1 p.m. After lunch, a tour bus will take guests around the park showing them new improvements and the site for the new USI/Burdette trail. Moers said the picnic committee is considering fried chicken but welcomes any suggestions about catering the event.

  • The picnic will combine the August general meeting, membership recruitment, and a current membership social gathering.

  • Moers said that after lunch, there will be entertainment provided by Elvis “Keith” Freeman.

  • Moers also asked for clean-up volunteers.

  • Stagg said that some neighborhood organizations do not know much about WIA. She wants to know if we have invited other organizations to the picnic. Padget responded that WIA representatives have made an effort to go out and speak to other organizations.

  • Berning said that neighborhoods should not just use WIA as a resource for rezoning or remonstrance without joining, and WIA should be more aggressive in recruiting new members based on that issue. Cleek responded that WIA needs to find more folks who say “we” need to do something rather than “you” need to do something.

  • There were various suggestions from the floor about recruiting memberships from folks who ask for WIA’s help.

President’s Announcements

• Cleek announced that WIA needs a new secretary and asked for volunteers.

Old Business

• James said that she sent a letter to Joe Beck concerning the clean-up project on the west side. The project will be conducted by Westside Nut Club, Keep Evansville Beautiful, and USI sometime in November.
   

New Business – none

Committee Reports

• Candidates’ Night – Farmer reported

  • Padget asked if WIA has received a confirmation from the Republican Party about the event date—September 11. Jeffers said that Connie Carrier made that decision about a month ago.

  • Cleek asked for contact information to reactivate contact with different neighborhood organizations, especially, since Candidates Night is coming up in September. Cleek said maybe WIA should offer co-sponsorship to the organizations in order to stimulate participation.

  • The membership discussed the location Candidates’ Night. Farm Bureau, The Korner, and Resurrection were mention. At a previous Board meeting Berning suggested having Candidates’ Night at The Korner. Jeffers said that she has already reserved The Korner.

  • Farmer reported that UNOE will have its Candidates’ Night Thursday, September 28, 6:30 p.m., at the Red Cross Building on Lloyd Expressway.

• Land Use – Padget reported

  • Padget noted that Mayse Farm Market’s need for commercial rezoning was approved. These actions allowed Mayse Farm Market to continue to use a gravel parking lot. Padget said a variance for gravel parking lot makes more sense in farm areas. In addition, gravel instead of pavement benefits the environment. WIA supported the rezoning effort.

  • On May 11 Area Plan Commission (APC) heard a proposal to rezone 9.8 acres at 5300 Woodhaven Drive from Agriculture and residential R-1 to Commercial C-4. The proposal contained no use and development commitment. Neighbors have become agitated and presented a petition at the APC meeting, and the project received a two-month extension. Moers spoke about the possibility of a mini mart type venture at this site and said that there is some support for this idea because of the lack of stores in the area. WIA has met with members of the neighborhood. The WIA board voted to oppose the rezoning at a previous meeting.

  • A Vanderburgh County Commissioner notified Padget that someone may be exploring student housing at the Greg Moore denial site (8530 Middle Mt. Vernon Road), which would need a waiver of the one-year waiting period. Berning asked if developers could be held to putting their originally stated business on a piece of property. Padget explained that the use and development commitment usually limits a developer to specific uses of properties. Stagg said she wonders if there is a need for more student housing since USI campus housing is not 100 percent occupied.

Linda Cleek, President, thanked the people who were present for their participation.

Next Meeting
The next General meeting will be held on Saturday, September 16, 12 noon, at Burdette Park Shelter House #13.

The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 4 p.m., at Red Bank Library.


The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Bill Jeffers (note taker)
Brenda Jeffers (typist)

 

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