Property lines and planning for the proposed country club park discussed

Jasper – The Jasper Redevelopment Commission allowed some adjustments on a land sale to residents along Emily Street and approved working with the firm CityVisions Associates to develop a comprehensive plan for the future country club park.

The residents along Emily Street requested a buffer between the new city park and their residences. A buffer approximately 100 to 135 feet wide was under consideration but the final buffer proposed was 100 feet wide. The property owners along Emily stated they would like to have the 135 foot buffer, but the city stated they needed the 100 foot width to allow access to a pond dam adjacent to the Emily Street residences.

To allow the 135 foot buffer over the majority of the residences, the property owner closest to the lake allowed a notch to be cut back the 35 foot difference the city was seeking. After the notch the buffer would return to the 135 foot width.

In addition to this agreement, the Redevelopment Commission also approved contracting services with Louisville-based CityVisions Associates and Boston-based Gamble Associates for $62,000 to create a plan for the proposed central park. CityVisions Associates and Gamble Associates is currently also contracted to create a Riverwalk/Downtown Masterplan for the city.

The country club closed at the end of December and the city has offered property owner Club Management almost $1.1 million from the city’s rainy day fund to buy 58 acres of the golf course. Club management approved the offer but the city must wait for approval of the appropriation with the 2013 budget from the Indiana Department of Government Finance. This is expected to occur sometime in February.