After working on changes to the city’s zoning map for more than a year, the Gary Common Council approved the amendments at Tuesday’s evening meeting.
The changes passed in a unanimous 8-0 vote. Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, was absent Tuesday, and Councilwoman Lori Latham, D-1st, attended the meeting virtually.
According to Post-Tribune archives, in May, the council approved updates to its municipal code, which combined chapters 103, 107, 121 and 123 of the city municipal code. The combined chapters relate to zoning and planning around the Gary/Chicago International Airport, zoning and planning around condominiums, and general planning and zoning within the city.
The approval created a new Unified Development Ordinance and go into effect on Aug. 1. According to council documents, the updated citywide zoning map will be combined with the UDO, and it’ll go into effect the same day.
Corrie Sharp, Gary’s Director of Zoning, told the council Tuesday that the city wrote a new zoning code, which established new land use districts and added a couple new districts as well.
“When we were creating the map, we took into consideration four different factors,” Sharp said. “Those four factors were, what is the existing zoning classification? The second one was, what does the comprehensive plan say? The third was, what’s ready for economic development? And the fourth was, what is our existing infrastructure and utility capacity today?”
The map adds five new residential districts, Sharp said, and four new business districts. Residential districts are split into five categories, which include small lot, traditional neighborhoods, attached residential, medium or high density, and high density residential.
Business districts are split into four categories, including limited retail or service, large or multi-tenant, wholesale and distribution, and automotive. The code also has destination zoning, downtown mixed-use and neighborhood-mixed use, according to the updated map.
Updates to the map are within the city’s comprehensive plan, according to council documents.
Gary Plan Commission President Tom Cera said at Tuesday’s meeting that city staff have worked on the updated zoning map and taken public comment for more than a year. In May, it was introduced to the plan commission, and it received a favorable recommendation this month
The plan commission also had a workshop in June where a few dozen people gave their feedback, including representation from 11 of Gary’s 15 neighborhoods.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, the city heard comments about the code changes. Gary Lee, a longtime resident in the city’s Black Oak neighborhood, said he was opposed to the map.
“I’ve looked at that map, and it’s a bit confusing,” Lee said. “If you approve this zoning map, you will deny the public, the people, the voters, the right to decide what happens in their neighborhood.”
Lee said he believes the council hasn’t taken a good look at the zoning map. Several areas will change from residential to industrial zoning, Lee said, or they’ll change to be part of an entertainment district.
“That entertainment district could include a restaurant, a hotel and any number of other commercial businesses,” he said.
Gary resident Grace Tafoya also spoke against the zoning changes, specifically in one area near Chase Street. In that area, Tafoya said the Wetlands Initiative has been working on a restoration project to make the area into a parks district.
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“You guys have it zoned as a heavy industry area,” Tafoya said, “which will completely spit in their face and the millions of dollars that they’re investing to try and restore this area.”
Another Gary resident Jenny Rudderham voiced her concerns with the zoning changes, asking for clarification about destination districts and if all nature areas are included in that. Rudderham also asked if the city could provide additional details on where data centers might be zoned if they come to Gary.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Council Vice President Darren Washington, D-at large, told residents that he didn’t want to diminish the work the city and plan commission have put into the zoning map. He encouraged them to show up throughout the process and express concerns rather than waiting until the end.
“You’ve got to be part of the process,” Washington said. “I’m not saying the points aren’t valid, but there’s a lot of hard work that goes on in between.”
Councilman and Parliamentarian Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, echoed Washington’s sentiments, saying the process has taken “way longer” than a year. Residents had “nothing but opportunity” to speak up about the changes, he said.
“Where were you six months ago?” Whisenton said. “ … I took time from my son to sit down with you on countless nights. Where were you? Where was the passion?”
Whisenton told Gary residents that they need to express throughout the process and talk with their elected officials early on.
“I am holding you accountable because you hold me accountable,” he said. “Show up, speak, act. Don’t pull me in the hallway because you’re upset. Pull me last year when I gave you three hours.”