A Crawfordsville business owner was unable to convince officials to rezone two of his properties on the city’s west side.
Jaspal Baidwan, who owns the site of the former Crawford’s Food Store at 605 W. Market St. and who also operates a gas station at 301 W. Market St., wanted both properties rezoned from residential to business.
In March, Baidwan failed to gain support from the Crawfordsville Plan Commission to change the zoning classification of the former grocery store, which had been grandfathered into the city’s zoning code. When the business sold to Baidwan, he was able to continue operating a business in the residential area with a variance. When two additional businesses failed in that location, and the property went unused for more than a year, the variance was revoked.
The plan commission passed the rezoning request on to the council with an unfavorable recommendation. Last week, Baidwan and his attorney made a plea for the rezoning during the council’s monthly committee meeting. Baidwan’s request was discussed by members of the Ordinance & Petitions Committee and comments included opposition from neighbors. The council committee passed the request on to the full council with an unfavorable recommendation.
On Tuesday, Baidwan’s rezoning request for 605 W. Market St. was brought to a vote, but did not receive a second, so the motion failed. No comments were made by city officials, Baidwan, or his legal counsel.
Previously, Baidwan indicated his intent was to convert the property into storage units. Several neighbors expressed concerns about the proposal at earlier meetings. Many neighbors also submitted letters to the city citing concerns about the proposed use, the two failed businesses at the site since the grocery store closed, the lack of upkeep at the property, and potential future uses that would be allowed in a new zoning classification. Several residents expressed their desire that the property remain residential going forward.
The property is currently listed for sale.
Baidwan’s second request to rezone the gas station property from residential to business also failed, but the motion did receive a vote. Council members Andy Biddle, Ethan Hollander and Kent Priebe voted in favor of the change, but were outnumbered by council members Stan Hamilton, Jennifer Lowe, Jeff Lucas, and Mike Reidy.
The property at the corner of Market Street and Grant Avenue has long been operated as a gas station and is grandfathered into the zoning code. It currently operates with a variance.
In other business, the council:
• Adopted an ordinance that amends the city’s salary ordinance and adopted an ordinance that makes an additional appropriation available to increase pay for the city fire and police departments. The additional funds needed are $370,633 for the fire department and $330,460 for the police departent.
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance re-establishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at a rate of $.05 per $100 of assessed value. Two additional readings are required before adoption.
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance re-establishing the Cumulative Fire Fund at a rate of $.0333 per $100 of assessed value. Two additional readings are required before adoption.
• Approved a resolution acknowledging receipt of the 2023 Crawfordsville Rental Registration Program annual report. Megan Huckstep, director of planning and building services, told committee members last week during their monthly meeting that there were 594 parcels registered in 2023 — up from 590 in 2022. She also said a total of 121 inspections were conducted in 2023. Also, per the report, there were 182 landlords registered in 2023 and 2,584 individual rental units registered for inspection, which was an increase of 303 units. Thirty-three citations were issued for properties that failed to register and all complied after receiving a violation notice. The current fund balance as of March 7 is $23,547.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the sale of real property at 508 John St. The city acquired the less than one-acre property from the county and it was cleaned up through an Indiana Department of Environmental Management brown field program.
• Approved a resolution acknowledging receipt of the 2023 Crawfordsville Redevelopment Commission annual report and presentation by a representative of Baker Tilly, a financial consulting firm.
• Approved a resolution for tax abatement for Spartech LLC (formerly Crawford Industries). The previous resolution is being revised to correct the abatement schedule, which is 100% for the first five years and 50% for the remaining five years.
• Approved the first reading of an environmental restrictive ordinance regulating the installation and use of new groundwater wells and the use of groundwater in the area near the former McIntire Cleaners site at 201 W. Main St.
• Approved a resolution outlining the fiscal plan related to the proposed annexation of 4.34 acres at 801 S. State Road 47 owned by Primera Iglesia Bautista and associated right-of-way. An ordinance to annex the property received a unanimous vote on first reading. Two additional readings are required prior to adoption.
• Heard from Councilman Reidy, who asked about the city’s sidewalk replacement program. Barton replied that city officials are revising the program and will announce changes soon.
