Residents urge APC to retain 2–4‑story buffer in West Lafayette downtown amendment

APC staff opened public comment on a second amendment to the West Lafayette downtown plan that adds an expansion study area (shown as yellow on staff maps) and updates the street grid and land-use categories. Staff said the item is the start of public engagement, not a finalized plan.

Several residents from the New Chanty and Oakwood areas asked the committee to preserve a previously adopted 2–4 story downtown-edge buffer along Fowler, Wiggins and North Streets. "Why are we updating and densifying the north central portion of the plan?" asked resident Zachary Vale, urging the committee to retain the lower scale. Vale argued that decoupling height limits from block designations would allow six-story proposals adjacent to single-family homes.

Other residents echoed the point. Jay McCann, a member of the original 2013 New Chanty steering committee, asked the APC to "retain the downtown edge buffer" and to follow the neighborhood land-use plan. Resident Katherine Gman described the neighborhood as "a jewel" and urged measures to protect its walkable, family-oriented character. Don Teter raised a staff‑data issue, asking the commission to correct what he said appears to be an erroneous historic-property designation for 250 Sheet Street (county records show the house was built in 2000).

Staff responded that it had received many written comments, will compile them into a revised draft, and plans additional outreach and at least three public hearings as the amendment moves through the ordinance committee, the full APC and then West Lafayette city council. Staff did not propose immediate changes at the committee meeting.

Next steps: staff will assemble comments, prepare an amended draft, and return it to the ordinance committee and APC; a final ordinance, if pursued, would proceed to city council after required public hearings.