It is not often the Fishers Plan Commission unanimously votes to send an unfavorable recommendation to the City Council, but that is what happened Wednesday night.  The Bel Canto proposed apartment complex, consisting of 292 units, requires a rezoning and the Plan Commission members voted not to support that change.

The proposed site of the project is the southeast corner of East 136th Street and Cyntheanne Road.  The land where the development would be located is currently zoned as commercial, requiring a change in zoning to residential for the proposed apartment project to move forward.  That proposed change resulted in all 7 Plan Commission members present for the meeting unamimously sending the unfavorable recommendation..

Attorney Steve Hardin presented the case before the commission for the project and the developer also argued their case as well.  Five people spoke during the public hearing, four from neighboring Barrington Estates and one from Britton Falls, all opposing the rezone.  A petition was filed with the commission and many written comments were filed with the city planners, all in opposition of the zoning change.

Two members of the Fishers City Council, Pete Peterson and Selina Stoller, also serve as Plan Commission members.  Both supported the unfavorable recommendation for the zoning change, saying this is not the right location for such a development.

“I am a huge proponent of multi family projects,” said Plan Commission President Howard Stevenson.  “There is still a need for that here in the city of Fishers.  But I agree with (Peterson’s & Stoller’s) sentiments.”  He added that this proposal is not consistent with the Fishers comprehensive 2040 plan.

The request for rezoning the property now goes to the Fishers City Council for a vote.