Editor,
In November of 2014 Zionsville was presented with a proposal by nursing home developer and operator CarDon and Assoc. for the development of an assisted living facility to be built near the intersection of 334/Oak St. and Cooper Rd. in District 3. As many Zionsville citizens may have observed this was a contentious issue over the many months it was in discussions with the Zionsville Planning Commission (ZPC) and finally the Zionsville Town Council (ZTC).
The project brought with it issues that concerned the safety, health, and welfare of Zionsville citizens and some legitimate concerns that negatively impacted citizens adjacent to the development like property valuations, noise, drainage, etc. As such it garnered substantial public criticism from not only neighbors, but citizens of District 3 and Zionsville at-large as well. Residents of Russell Lake and Enclave subdivisions were diligent to respond in remonstrance to this proposal as it had wide-reaching impact. In fact, the issue was large enough for a ZPC Commissioner to comment at a hearing that ‘it was the most attendance they had seen since Wal-Mart (proposal)’.
Following initiation of remonstrance Russell Lake and Enclave residents reached out to ZTC District 3 Representative Tom Schuler to explain our position and perhaps acquire help voicing our opposition. His response was not what we expected from an elected official whose duties include representing their constituency. Our efforts in talking with Schuler were fruitless as residents that spoke with him seeking support were met only with objections. We continued our objection regardless.
As February arrived the ZPC was ready to convene again and make a final recommendation on the proposal. Again, we attempted to engage Schuler to assist representing our objection to the proposal and were once more denied. We received yet more objections from Schuler saying he ‘wouldn’t be attending the meeting’ and ‘wasn’t 100% for or against’ the proposed development (which had no bearing on our objection). We even offered to read a statement of opposition in Schuler’s absence if he agreed to author as representative, if anything, to get it on record. Schuler refused that as well.
What Schuler did offer was the presence of another ZTC member to receive our “input” and continued “as it helps me (Schuler) to have more councillors (sic) understand your (our) position” and then thanked us for our help. Wasn’t it us asking Schuler for help? Wasn’t it us giving “input” to Schuler the entire time during remonstrance? Schuler clearly wasn’t listening and missed the point entirely in that all input had been given repeatedly from several residents; as anyone who cared about the outcome was engaged in the process for months. We were abandoned by Schuler, but not without resolve. Fortunately, the ZPC voted a negative recommendation on the proposal.
Ironically, at the following ZTC meeting a few weeks later, when actually given the chance to vote on the ZPC’s negative recommendation Tom Schuler once again was not in attendance to represent or vote.
Zionsville and District 3 deserves better representation than this.
Jeff Rieth and Kurt King
Zionsville citizens, District 3