The Bloomington City Council indefinitely postponed the renaming of the area around Miller-Showers Park and voted “no” to amending the Bloomington Municipal Code at their meeting on Wednesday.
The council voted 7-1 to indefinitely postpone renaming the potential Stadium District, the area surrounding Miller-Showers Park. Only City Council President Hopi Stosberg, who co-sponsored the resolution, voted no. Councilmember Sydney Zulich was absent. Council Attorney Lisa Lehner said during the meeting the indefinite postponement would essentially 'kill' the resolution.
Before the vote, Stosberg introduced a new map for the potential Stadium District based on feedback from residents. The original map was based on zoning districts.
Jane Kupersmith, the city’s director of economic and sustainable development, explained the new map was condensed because residents in certain neighborhoods included in the map did not want to be included in the district.
The new map removed the Garden Hill neighborhood and the majority of the Maple Heights neighborhood, focusing on retail and businesses in the area.
Tracy Bee, the president of the Maple Heights Neighborhood Association, asked the council to postpone their decision to name the district to give the neighborhood more time to discuss the map change.
“Nothing before this issue has actually raised the ire of my neighbors so much,” Bee said during public comment. “I’ve never seen them so unhappy.”
Aubrey Williams is the co-founder of Heartwork Brewing, which is located inside the proposed district area. She said the name would have given the district a sense of identity and draw positive attention and growth to the area.
Other commenters raised concerns about increased property valuation, as well as safety and noise concerns. Councilmembers expressed their worries about the safety along the Walnut Street and College Avenue corridor and the need for more discussion with residents.
Stosberg said she wanted to figure out how to prop up the small businesses in the area.
The council also voted 7-1 against amending the Bloomington Municipal Code to allow a new land use for commercial urban agriculture. Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith was the only yes vote. The zoning use would permit the growth and sale of crops and produce on urban land year-round, as well as allow outdoor educational activities to be conducted on the property and on-site employees.
It differs from the existing noncommercial urban garden land use by specifically allowing for outdoor education and employees.
Some public commenters raised concerns about additional traffic and decreased property values if the code were to be changed.
Others said the councilmembers should take a chance, and that gardening would give people more control over their food sources, help alleviate climate change and educate people about gardening.
Councilmember Dave Rollo raised concerns about the large hoop height — around 20 feet — that would have been allowed in the amended code. It also would’ve permitted greenhouses and hoop structures to take up 50% of the property.
Agriculture hoops are used to help extend the growing season by protecting crops from the weather.
“I think it’s going to cause maybe blowback among the neighbors and the residents, and I think you’re likely to then suffer a lot of acrimony and opposition to urban agriculture,” Rollo said. “I think that’s a mistake.”
Some councilmembers asserted that urban agriculture was already allowed in Bloomington and that the code change wouldn’t advance the abilities of residents to cultivate crops.
Piedmont-Smith expressed her support for the change, citing the climate crisis and people’s freedom to grow their own food.
The council will reconvene Nov. 12 at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
