Commission approves Walnut Street EDA amid neighbor concerns over notice and zoning

The Muncie Redevelopment Commission approved an economic development agreement July 23 with Advantage Built Homes LLC for two city lots on Walnut Street for single‑family homes for sale. Jeff (city staff) presented renderings and said the developer intends the homes to comply with neighborhood standards and avoid variances if possible.

Public comment and commissioners raised concerns about timing and notice: Rachel, vice president of the McKinley Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood learned about the proposal only the day before and asked for more meaningful early engagement. Rebecca Hanna told the commission the lots are zoned R‑5, which she said requires a 50‑foot minimum lot width and that the parcels in question measure about 40 feet, meaning a variance may be required to build as proposed. Hanna said, “the R‑5, if you look at the zoning code, does require a minimum of 50 foot lots... and they are 40 feet. So they will require a variance unless something is wrong in the reporting.”

Commissioners debated whether to amend and table the resolution until overlay language returned from council; that attempt to table the item died for lack of a second. Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the EDA with the corrected date in section 3 of the resolution; the motion passed 3–1. Staff and counsel told the commission the EDA includes default and remedy language and timing clauses intended to hold developers to start and finish timelines.