Area Plan Commission denies BoilerCribs

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - The Tippecanoe Count Area Planning Commission (APC) denied a rezoning request to bring a six-story mixed use building across the street from Mackey Arena.

More than 100 people turned out to the APC meeting Wednesday evening, making the crowd standing room only and spilling out into the hallways.
    
The proposal has been known as BoilerCribs, although on Wednesday it was called the Landmark development.
    
The building would sit right on Northwestern Avenue, housing 250 apartments with 600 beds for students, along with more than 37-thousand square feet of retail space including a grocery store and pharmacy.

Dozens on both sides of the issue wrote in comments and spoke up at the meeting, with a majority speaking against the rezoning request.

A few people wrote in stating they were excited about the nearness of the proposed amenities.

For many people against the proposal, parking was the biggest issue.  But the height and look of the building were concerns as well.

After discussion lasting more than two hours, the APC denied the measure by a vote of 13-1.

"I was happy to see the way the vote turned out," said Andy Gutwein, a neighborhood resident
who spoke up against the proposal.  "I think it will send a pretty clear message to the city council that this is not an appropriate use for this particular site."

Owner and Developer Marc Muinzer told NewsChannel 18 he wasn't surprised by the vote.

"We're looking forward to taking this to the city council," Muinzer said.  "We're looking forward to taking this to the city council, letting the vote lay in their hands. No surprises at all tonight."

During the discussion portion of the meeting APC Assistant Director Ryan O'Gara said when it came to development, the city held all the cards.

"The city can take its time and be very discriminating on projects," O'Gara said.  "Knowing that if they let one go that they are not comfortable with, there's going to be somebody right behind the other guy."

The proposal now heads to the West Lafayette City Council to determine the fate of the project.  That is slated to take place during the meeting March 5.