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Lawmakers nix gun club
GREENCASTLE -- The final authority on rezoning for a proposed gun club in western Putnam County officially denied the motion Monday morning.
After a negative recommendation from the Putnam County Plan Commission in November, the action came before the Putnam County Commissioners at Monday's regular meeting.
The plan commission's recommendation was based on the fact that the gun club, proposed for a site on West Walnut in Madison Township, conflicted with the comprehensive plan, did not fulfill a public need, would create a traffic flow problem and would create a potential nuisance to neighboring landowners.
Ultimately, the commissioners -- one of whom, Gene Beck, also serves on the plan commission -- agreed with the original findings and did not rezone from Agriculture 1 to Agriculture 2.
Beck said he got a number of letters in support of the club, but not one of them came from Putnam County.
"I represent the people of Putnam County, not everywhere else in the state of Indiana," he said.
Andrew Price, attorney for petitioner Deb Cheek, argued that the remonstrators had not presented evidence to the plan commission, but merely "speculation." He cited a number of ways Cheek planned to address safety, noise and land contamination.
However, approval ultimately hinged purely on questions of zoning. Del Brewer, attorney for the remonstrators, said there was no reason to rezone the area. Agriculture 2 is described as being for buffer areas between city and country or along highways.
The site does not fit the criteria.
The commissioners unanimously denied the request.