TERRE HAUTE —
The Vigo County Commissioners are calling for a halt to new building permits for Cobblestone Crossing, a south-side property development that has been the focus of anger from neighboring residents for months.
However, the commissioners’ move is unlikely to fully satisfy residents of Woodgate and Viscaya Point who were hoping for a “stop work” order to halt work on about seven two-story apartment buildings currently under construction near their back yards.
The residents contend the apartments violate zoning laws and are reducing the value of their homes. County officials contend the apartments are not in violation of zoning regulations.
While the commissioners’ statement issued Thursday afternoon calls the subdivision residents’ concerns “legitimate,” it does not halt construction of the new apartments. Rather it orders the Vigo County building inspector to refrain from granting any new building permits to Cobblestone until a solution to the conflict is achieved.
“Representatives of both parties have expressed a willingness to actively participate in addressing the legitimate concerns expressed by the residents of the subdivisions surrounding Cobblestone,” said the statement issued by Commissioners Mike Ciolli, Judy Anderson and Paul Mason on Thursday afternoon. “In an effort to foster this cooperative attitude, the Commissioners of Vigo County are not going to make any final decision until such time as negotiation is no longer an option.”
The statement also said that the commissioners “will not make any further public comment until it is appropriate.”
Charlie Williams, president of the Woodgate Homeowners Association and a member of the ad hoc neighborhood group opposing the apartments, said the commissioners’ move could help to bring about an agreement with Cobblestone Crossing.
“It’s certainly way too soon to celebrate any kind of victory here, because we’re going to have to live with these apartments forever, it appears,” Williams said. However, the commissioners may have helped push Cobblestone to make a formal proposal next week for a “divider” between the neighborhoods and the Cobblestone apartments, he said.
The subdivision residents would like Cobblestone to bare the cost of building a wall separating their properties from the apartments, Williams said. The neighborhood residents expect a formal proposal from Cobblestone’s legal counsel sometime next week, he said.
When asked, Williams said the residents would not shrink from taking their case to court if all else fails.
Calls were placed Thursday afternoon to Jim Nidlinger and Michael Bireley, officials with Cobblestone Crossing, but they could not be reached for comment.
Cobblestone Crossing is a commercial and residential property development in southern Vigo County on U.S. 41 north of Ivy Tech.
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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No new building permits for Cobblestone
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