TERRE HAUTE —
Editor’s Note: Proposed changes in property zoning in Vigo County must pass through the Vigo County Area Plan Commission — a local governing body at the center of a development-neighborhood controversy south of Terre Haute. The construction of apartments at the Cobblestone Crossings development — a multi-use housing complex that includes condominiums, apartments, an athletic club and more — is causing angst for homeowners, who question the process by which apartments are being built so near their properties. At right is an explanation of the Area Plan Commission’s structure and current membership.
The county adopted a unified countywide zoning ordinance in November, 1996. That included the entire county with the exception of West Terre Haute, which later adopted the countywide zoning ordinance on Oct. 9, 2001.
The Area Plan Commission has 14 members who represent geographic districts in the county and who are appointed by elected officials. The current board lacks one member, after Mike Carrell, a representative of the City of Terre Haute, resigned in June 2011. His position has yet to be filled by the mayor of Terre Haute.
Each citizen, under state law and county ordinance, is to be appointed because of the member’s knowledge and experience in community affairs, the member’s awareness of the social, economic, agricultural and industrial problems of the area, and the member’s interest in the development and integration of the area.
A citizen member may not hold an elected office or any other appointed office in the city, county or state government, except for a board of zoning appeals. Members are also required to be property owners.
Members of the Vigo County Plan Commission, while appointed, are not paid. Members serve a four-year term, except members appointed by the Terre Haute City Council, city Board of Public Works or Board of Sanitary Commissioners, and Vigo County Board of Commissioners; they are appointed annually.
One member of the plan commission is to be appointed by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners, which serves as the legislative and executive body of the county, from its membership. Commissioner Paul Mason fulfills that role this year.
The unincorporated areas of the county are divided into five planning districts. Five citizens are appointed to represent those areas. The citizens are selected by township trustees in each of the planning districts.
Current commission members are:
• Larry Agree, representing Honey Creek and Prairieton townships. Agree has been on the Plan Commission since 2010 and his term expires at the end of 2013.
• John Hanley, vice president of the commission, represents Otter Creek and Nevins townships. Hanley has been on the commission since 2006 and his current term expires at the end of 2013.
• Wayne Langman represents Riley and Lost Creek townships. He has been on the plan commission since 2009 and his current term expires at the end of this year.
• Steve Marrs represents Fayette and Sugar Creek townships. He has served on the plan commission since 1998. His current term expires in 2013.
• Fred Wilson, president of the plan commission, has served since 1988. His current term expires in 2014.
The City of Terre Haute has one member appointed by the city’s Board of Public Works or its Board of Sanitary Commissioners. That appointment this year is City Engineer Chuck Ennis.
The Terre Haute City Council’s appointment is a member from its own ranks. Councilman Todd Nation was chosen this year.
Terre Haute’s mayor appoints an additional three members. They are Jeff Ford, who is filling the term of Todd Brinza, who resigned last year after moving out of the city. Ford’s term expires this year; and Mark Tarrh, whose joined the plan commission in 2008. His current term expires in 2015. The third appointment was the aforementioned Carrell, who resigned last year.
The county’s incorporated towns — Seelyville, Riley and West Terre Haute — each appoint one member. Current members are:
• Brent S. Spier, Seelyville town manager. He has served since 2003 and his current term expires in 2013.
• Norm Froderman, who serves as secretary of the plan commission, represents Riley. His current term expires in 2015.
• Earl C. Rodgers represents West Terre Haute. His term expires this year.
The Area Plan Commission meets once a month; the commission’s monthly agenda can be found at www.vigocounty.in.gov.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@
tribstar.com.
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