The iTown Church began the process of finding a new home at the intersection of 126th Street and Brooks School Road, but a rezoning now approved by the Fishers City Council means they will pursue that new house of worship further north, at 136th Street and Brooks School Road.  Council members suspended the rules with a unanimous vote, then approved the rezoning with all voting yes except Councilman Rich Block, who abstained from voting because he is a member of the church.

iTown started by eyeing a property in the area of the Gray Eagle neighborhood.   Once the residents in that neighborhood began organizing against the church moving there, church leaders decided to change their plans and propose the new church complex be constructed on what is now farm land at 136th & Brooks School.

But there was an obstacle in the way.  In 2012, the Town of Fishers established an I-69 overlay zone that would prevent churches and other nonprofit groups from locating in that area, preserving valuable property near the Interstate to continue on the property tax roles.  Churches do not pay property taxes.

The area at 136th & Brooks School has not drawn any serious commercial or industrial interest since 2012.  The city planning staff recommended rezoning the proposed church location for that reason.

Residents near 136th Street and Brooks School Road spoke against the church’s plans, saying it would bring weekend activity into what has, up to now, been a quiet neighborhood.

This process is not over for iTown.  The rezone allows the church to move forward on planning the new structure.  The building plans will also go through the planning and approval process. Neighbors will be given the opportunity to be a part of that process as it moves along.

In one other item at Monday night’s council session, a proclamation was approved congratulating Meyer Najem for 30 years in business.