Published: December 11, 2008 02:03 pm      

Jeffersonville City Council: No deal on Perrin Park land yet

Perrin issue could be back on city agenda Monday

An agreement between Perrin Park officials and Perrin Pointe homeowners has yet to be reached, and the issue could be back on the Jeffersonville City Council’s agenda by next week.

The Perrin Pointe subdivision sits across Utica Pike from a piece of riverside land owned by the Perrin Park Foundation. The foundation had previously discussed selling the 2.4 acres of land for residential development. That idea was met with ire by homeowners in Perrin Pointe, because development there could block their view of the Ohio River.

Though owned by the foundation, the land in question is not part of what’s known as Perrin Park.

“We’re in talks with the neighborhood folks and homeowners association at Perrin Pointe,” said Phil McCauley, a member of the board of directors with the foundation.

“Hopefully we’ll reach an agreement very soon.”

The land has been in and out of the headlines for the last four months or so, as officials and attorneys have clashed on its proper zoning.

Foundation officials argue that until a few years ago, the land was zoned for residential use. Then, as a result of an apparent error, the zoning was changed to a parks and recreation designation, without the property owners knowing.

The foundation requested it be rezoned back to its original residential zoning. Homeowners protested and the Jeffersonville Plan Commission gave an unfavorable recommendation to the request.

Both sides went before the Jeffersonville City Council in October and the idea of using it as a city park was discussed. McCauley said that option is still possible.

A long-term goal would be to establish the park and buy the four parcels that sit between the foundation’s land and boat dock Duffy’s Landing, creating a larger public space.

Mark Lawson, manager at Perrin Park, said he’s heard of nothing concrete on the deal, only noting that talks have been in progress.

Attorney Greg Fifer, who’s representing homeowners in the subdivision, could not be reached for comment earlier this week.

The City Council has yet to confirm or deny the Plan Commission’s unfavorable recommendation of the rezoning, said Larry Thomas, communications director for the city of Jeffersonville.

He noted that there is a 90-day window in which the council can deal with such matters. Assuming we’re still dealing with the status quo, it likely will be on the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting agenda, Thomas said.

The council meets 7:30 p.m. Monday at Jeffersonville City Hall, 500 Quartermaster Court.