WFHB Local News – March 6, 2020

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:44 — 32.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS | More

Welcome to the WFHB Local News for March 6th, 2020. Here are your local headlines.

1. Bloomington City Council discussed the Arlington Drive zoning ordinance and preliminary plat during their March Fourth meeting. Senior Zoning Planner Eric Greulich said the proposed developments includes single family homes, duplexes, townhomes, and multifamily housing. He said heavily vegetated parts of the development will be preserved as environmental conservation.Greulich said the developer is giving 45, build ready, single family lots to the city. He said the developed area would contain 387 units total. He spoke about street connectivity.He said petitioners have committed to a transit agreement with Bloomington transit for daily shuttle services. Council member Matt Flaherty proposed a reasonable condition about potential transit renegotiations.Council members approved the reasonable condition. Council members also approved conditions for town homes to follow street curvature, to increase electrical vehicle charging stations, utilize parallel parking over perpendicular parking, and intermixing of townhomes and cottages. Council members unanimously approved the preliminary plat with reasonable conditions.

   

2. The Monroe County Election Board discussed unique voting circumstances at their March fifth meeting. Board member Hal Turner questioned how people would vote in the events of a pandemic. Browne said options are available to vote from home. He said hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and exit of each voting site.

   

3. Ellettsville Plan Commission approved a Richland Senior Housing development plan extension during their March fifth meeting. Planer Kevin Tolloty said the development would include four one story buildings for seniors, ages 62 and up. He said the developer requested three wavers.The petitioner from Ally Affordable Housing said a pedestrian trail is planned to connect the development to town. She said constructing sidewalks on the existing street slopes would be a safety concern.Town Engineer Rick Coppock (Cop-ick) said residents would have to walk a 12-foot drop from the development to sidewalks on North Mathews Drive. He said sidewalk construction would cause drainage issues.

   Commissioners approved the plan and waiver for North Mathews Drive sidewalks. The petitioner said development completion is projected for January of 2022.

   

4. The Bloomington Board of Public Works approved a 6-month closure of Lower Cascades Road for a pedestrian travel trial period starting March 13th.Director of Parks and Recreation Paula McDevitt said Q-R codes posted at both trail entrances would be linked to an online survey. She said closure was chosen for this time of year to collect peak season usage data. Community member Greg Alexander said the trail lacks pedestrian connectivity. Also, community member Janet Nickels had concerns about alternate routes for emergency vehicles.McDevitt said all emergency services are aware of the project and have alternative routes. Signage will warn drivers of the street closure. Questions and concerns should be directed to the City Parks Department or City Department of Public Works.

   

5. The Indiana General Assembly is moving forward on a bill to de-regulate Indiana’s wetlands. WFHB Junior Correspondent Katrine Bruner has more on the story.

Feature Reports:

1. WFHB Correspondent Cynthia Roberts-Hall interviewed Yanet Pumareiga and Dariel Quintana, both Third Secretaries to the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. This is part two of the series.
2. WFHB Junior Correspondent Braydyn Lents interviews Marqube Reese, recent recipient of the Outstanding Black Leaders of Tomorrow award.

Credits:

• Anchors: Erin Wager Miller and Jordyn Jammer
• Headlines: Katrine Bruner and Sydney Foreman in partnership with CATS, Community Access Television Services.
• Features: Cynthia Roberts Hall and Braydyn Lents.
• Engineers: Sydney Foreman and Kade Young.
• Theme music: Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
• Executive Producer: Kade Young.

Thanks for supporting Indiana’s only volunteer-powered, listener supported independent local news program.