Downtown Zoning Meeting

The City of Elizabethtown had previously announced there would be a second meeting to obtain public comments about the Downtown Master Plan on Tuesday, September 29th, 5-7 p.m. at the State Theater.  As of noon on September 26, three days before the meeting, the City has not provided a reminder and it isn't posted on the City website calendar.

If you don’t know the history, the City began the process of forcing a zoning change to C-5 (the downtown commercial zoning designation) on residential properties in the downtown area a few months ago.  One of the areas included was Terry Court, which is pictured.  Many of the residents protested and were able to get media coverage.  The City withdrew the zoning application and scheduled these meetings to obtain public input.  Obviously, the process is backwards.  The residents should have been consulted first. 

The City has strongly embraced commercial zoning changes in recent years, often without regard for the nearby property owners or the direction provided by the comprehensive plan.  I support business development, but not when it infringes on established residential neighborhoods.  

Even if you don't live in the downtown area, consider attending Tuesday’s meeting to show you want to protect residential neighborhoods from the incursion of commercial development.  The planning staff needs to be discouraged from trying this in other parts of E’town.