The proposal for a dryland diving center is returning to the plan commission after the Noblesville Common Council determined too many changes were made to the submitted project since it received a 9-1 recommendation to not adopt from the plan commission at its March 17 meeting.
“In fairness, this needs to go back to them,” Councilor Rick Taylor said. “There has been a lot changed.”
“I’m a huge diving proponent, but I have a hard time to vote in favor of it when there’s that much of a negative vote. It would be a slap in the face to them,” Council president Mark Boice said.
Senior planner Joyceann Yelton said the commission felt the proposal was not compliant with Corporate Campus use standards and also had an issue with the gravel drive and parking lot. Yelton said the business would be temporary and is asking for 10-year waiver.
“We’re prepared to do it for that limited amount of time,” said owner and Olympic diving coach John Wingfield, who wants to train through the 2024 summer games. “If things progress (around the site at Corporate Campus) we’ll look to move.”
Wingfield is looking to build an indoor training center at 14707 E. 141st St. Plans call for a 90-by-90-foot pole barn training facility with approximately 8,100 square feet. There would not be a pool inside the barn, but trampolines, practice equipment and gymnastic mats.
“What the other countries do and we do to produce Olympic champions,” he said, adding training would be conducted at the site and Forest Park Aquatic Center.
Wingfield coaches six world-class athletes out of the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis and Forest Park. This summer he has 10 foreign divers from England, Wales and Australia coming to Indiana to train.
“The goal is to bring athletes from around the world to Noblesville,” he said. “My goal is (to) offer a camp program and train world-class athletes.”
Wingfield previously coached gold medalist David Boudia.
“We started when he was 10. I taught him his first dive and the rest is history,” he said.
The plan commission will hear the revised project at its May 27 meeting and can be back before the council in June.
