Rezoning for Habitat Home approved

Apr. 24—ANDERSON — The Anderson Plan Commission has approved a rezoning for the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home on Forkner Street.

The Plan Commission Tuesday approved the rezoning of 1423 Forkner Street from a business to residential rezoning.

Tim Stires, deputy director of the Anderson Municipal Development Department, said the property was rezoned for business use in 1976 but that no construction ever took place on the property.

The property is surrounded by single family housing.

Jan Miller, director of Madison County Habitat for Humanity, said the local nonprofit agency received the property from the Anderson Community Development Corp.

She said Habitat for Humanity is constructing a single family house at 1421 Forkner Street and the new homeowner will be taking possession on May 1.

Miller said the intention is to construct three Habitat homes in the area and that parking will be off the alley behind the property.

The Plan Commission tabled for a month a request from Alyssa Burton and Inspired Investments to rezone a house at 2408 Brown Street to allow for up to five units on the property.

Burton said she purchased the property in February.

Stires during the meeting read two letters from area residents opposed to the rezoning because of parking concerns and drug use of tenants of the former owner.

"We're trying to fix it up and rent to reliable people," Burton said. "We will have additional parking on the side."

She said the property currently has units for three tenants and the plan is to expand to five.

Zoning Administrator Micah Mitchell said a five-unit apartment would be considered a commercial business and that the state would require firewalls.

David Eicks, a member of the Plan Commission, said the property was originally built as a single-family unit and Burton would have to convert the property to a business building.

Mitchell said a third housing unit was added in 2020 and the previous owners were operating illegally.

Greg Spencer, president of the Plan Commission, said if the rezoning was voted on, it would probably be defeated.

"You have the option of withdrawing the request or ask that it be continued," Spencer said.

Burton said she wanted the rezoning request continued so she could do more research.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.