Development and the Future of Our Neighborhoods

We’ve got a simple philosophy: Put the citizens,not the  developers,of Vanderburgh County first!

We demand elected and apointed leaders who are committed to solving problems, not ignoring or creating them.

• The neighbors of the proposals along University Parkway near USI are begging for constructive and real change, and they wonder whether the County Commission and Area Plan Commissioners remember the zoning mandates they are supposed to use to render a decision. 
• It is unfortunate that out of character developments like the Majestic Place proposal seem to go unchecked and approved too frequently. Maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods is something more people should feel passionately about, especially those who have the obligation to vote properly on these developments. There are many folks who care deeply about the direction this community is going, and the neighborhoods are certainly going in some sort of direction. However, the Majestic Place proposal would be a direction that is irresponsible and would harm the integrity and character of the neighborhood and community.
• Pro-sprawl homebuilders never heard a subdivision they didn't like. Meanwhile, big money developers, partnering with their own contractors and realtors continue to speculate and build new sprawls of huge buildings and parking lots, while the vacancy rate of commercial buildings is skyrocketing and an innercity is dying with high vacancy rates and increasing crime. Whether there is sufficient water, schools, police, and other resources and/or infrastructure for prudent project approval is inconsequential to them.
• Communities should be shaped by choice, not chance!
• Do we want Vanderburgh County to become another Marion County? Vanderburgh County is routinely threatened by sprawling development and paved over by unreasonable growth, causing locals to become frustrated and angry with elected and appointed official's land-use planning and lack of "common sense" judgment. They fear for their property values and quality of life. As a result, voters stay informed, yet frightened and objecting--- all for very good reason.

Conclusion

1. NO rezonings of ANY type until University Parkway and the Highway 62 USI interchange is planned and funded with a detailed time line!We must stand up together for what we believe our neighborhoods and community should be, today and for future generations. We must make our voices heard by the people who vote on the issues, the people we elected to represent our voices in the community.
2. Any "promises" by a developer and their representatives MUST be in DETAILED writings with a "use and development" (UDC) filed with the petition, which means the UDC must be filed before the Area Plan Commission vote
3. We demand a better future for our respective neighborhoods and communities in every area of our county, and the time to start is now, and the Majestic Place proposal should be where we ask our County Commissioners and Area Plan Commission members to stand firm on behalf of the neighbors.
4. We want proper development that is planned out in advance based on local, state, and federal standards and does not encourage sprawl and spot-zoning, placed in communities where the infrastructure and services can support it. We want common sense land use planning, not "pie in the sky" promises that seldom materialize in the way the developers always bluster and promise.

If we allow Vanderburgh County to be shaped or formed by the extortion of wealthy and powerful developers, we will not end up with the community of our heritage.

Our Community! Our Change! Our Planning! Our Future!