The display shows aspects of the design concept for the Zionsville Gateway District. (Provided with permission from the Town of Zionsville)
In a 4-2 vote on December 20, the Zionsville City Council approved a resolution to modify the city’s master plan to include a design concept for the Zionsville Gateway District, a move City Council President Josh Garrett said was necessary because the market was not. An inspired development in the region for several years.
“For me, in voting for it, I definitely believe in the power of the free market, and I think the free market has spoken in the sense that that area has remained undeveloped since the closing of Citgo,” Garrett said. . “If zoning existed, if its economics was what the market would do, something would have been built on it a long time ago. Something had to be done.”
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron said she envisions the proposed Zionsville Gateway as a reimagined entrance to the city. The decision allows for the creation of a design concept based on a recent study, outlining what the city would like to see in the area towards the southern end of Main Street, near the intersection with Sycamore Street. In 2020, the city collected public observations while conducting the ZGA study, which proposed suggestions for the area based on residents’ input. Study results can be found at zionsvillegatewayarea.com.
Jarrett said the modification to the masterplan provides a “blueprint” for developers who want to propose development in the area. However, the design concept has been described as “suggestions” by several city officials, meaning that other developments for the area could be proposed.
According to the study, key design elements in the concept include “the continuation of 1st Street south after Sycamore Street – connecting with a rerouted south main street to the west where Eagle Creek crosses,” creating a pedestrian street on the original site of Southern Main Street south of Sycamore Street. . Also included were designs for an open public area, a two- and three-story mixed-use parcel containing retail, office and residential components, and a residential parcel with two-storey homes to the west to serve as a transition into the existing neighborhood in addition to several temporary storage and green spaces.
Kara Weber of DELV Design, which was part of the ZGA study’s advisory team, said proposing to study and develop ZGA is “an incredible advantage for having an synthesis of what’s going on (in the region) as a whole, as a holistic view.”
During a Zionsville City Council meeting on December 6, the council voted 4-0 to continue the matter to a future meeting, indicating a desire to learn more about the project before the vote. The Zionsville Township Planner Committee unanimously gave a positive recommendation that the council vote to amend the township master plan to include ZGA plans.
Garrett was joined in voting for the resolution on December 20 by council members Joe Kolb, Craig Melton and Brad Burke. Zionsville City Council Vice President Josh Plunkett and Councilwoman Alexander Choi voted against the decision. Brian Traylor, the seventh member of the council, was absent from the meeting.