A proposed housing subdivision on Shelbyville’s southwest side cleared a zoning issue Monday night at the city’s Common Council meeting at City Hall.
The Forestar Group received zoning clearance to move ahead with a proposed 185-parcel housing subdivision that will sit directly south of the Southern Trace subdivision.
A portion of the property (12 acres) was zoned for business purposes but has now been rezoned to residential. It sits adjacent to a nearly 52-acre piece of property that is already zoned residential.
The Forestar Group has targeted both properties for a housing subdivision that will be constructed by Westport Homes. Both entities are currently working together on the Twin Lakes expansion on the city’s west side.
The Forestar Group is expected to provide a detailed look at the housing subdivision at the Plan Commission meeting on April 26 at City Hall.
In other council business, it approved a salary ordinance amendment to make certain salary ranges more attractive. The city is struggling to fill positions at the Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center and has a city engineer being recruited by the private sector.
“Things are pretty competitive right now,” said Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department Director Karen Martin at the meeting. “We are not just competing with things like (water parks). We are competing with Walmart and restaurants. We are losing (employees) to places like that.”
The Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center did not open in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. That has led to losing employees that traditionally work for the parks department during summer months.
The council also approved face mask requirements for city buildings.
The statewide mandate to wear masks ended today. Masks are no longer required at restaurants and retail stores in Shelby County but local businesses may still require patrons to wear them.
The city, county and Major Health Partners have extended mask requirements until May 3 for their facilities.
In the city that includes Accell IN Center, the municipal airport, animal shelter, City Hall, conference center at 2154 Intelliplex Drive, all three fire stations, the parks department, police department, public utilities office, street department, and the Waste Water Recovery Facility.
With another 3-4 weeks of vaccinations, the mask mandate could end according to Mayor Tom DeBaun.
