A tie vote in Monday night’s Noblesville Plan Commission sends the controversial Beaver gravel pit zoning request to the City Council without any recommendation.
Beaver Materials Inc. had asked that zoning on the proposed pit site be changed from agricultural to allow extraction of sand and gravel. The 50-acre site is located along Allisonville Road immediately south of Potters Bridge Park.
Residents of subdivisions to the east and south of the location have objected to the Beaver plans claiming noise, dust and truck traffic will lower property values.
Ordinarily, the plan commission reviews a request for change in zoning and forwards to the city council either a favorable or unfavorable recommendation. But, with a tie vote, the matter goes to the council without recommendation.
On the question of sending an unfavorable recommendation, members of the Plan Commission voted as follows:
- Yes: Steve Cooke, Anita Rogers, Jim Hellmann, Gretchen Hanes, Darren Peterson
- No: Scott Noel, Scott Smith, Blake Anderson, Linda Wilcox, David Bertner
On the question of sending a favorable recommendation, members of the Plan Commission voted as follows:
- Yes: Scott Noel, Scott Smith, Blake Anderson, Linda Wilcox and David Bertner
- No: Steve Cooke, Anita Rogers, Jim Hellmann, Gretchen Hanes and Darren Peterson
The council votes on any change of zoning in the Noblesville planning jurisdiction, which includes the proposed pit site even though the property is not within the city limits.
The project will now be heard by the Noblesville Common Council on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
