THE FLANDERS AMENDMENT
by: Dan Barton, Publisher of the New-Harmony Gazette.
April 1, 2018
The Flanders Amendment to Chapter 17.52 of the Town Ordinances has been made into law. Now, no longer, after 200 years of continuous tradition, practice, precedent and Town Law can any business or building owner in the Historic District freely use their building’s first-floor storefront for residential use. The New Harmony Town Council passed the new restrictive amendment 3 – 1 at the March 2018 Council public meeting.
Not that first floor residences were ever commonly done or that it had become a trend for the future. I proved that point beyond a shadow of a doubt, but someone might be thinking about doing it and we can’t have that. The New Harmony Plan Commission identified two partially occupied first-floor storefronts or store backs being used. That’s two out of what Councilman David Flanders described at the Council Meeting as a District with 35 buildings.
This is the threat that had about a half dozen business people in that neighborhood up in arms and was determined to give up the right to use their property as they saw fit. Well, it’s done! No crying over spilled milk here. No crying in my beer. I and approximately four citizens of New Harmony lost the battle to preserve the old Chapter 17.52. No blaming the Rooskies. No right wing or left wing conspiracy. Just Democracy and a large touch of unfounded fear. Fear is not an uncommon characteristic in American politics and is often manipulated by politicians, as was in this case. That was the prime motivating factor in the passage of this new law. At the same time, there was no strong support to preserve the old ordinance either. Only four of us came to bat for holding on to the old Chapter 17. However there was enough support on the other side to abolish the 200-year-old tradition in New Harmony, and fear has won the day.
This is history and that’s why I decided to do this short epilogue. The Town Council voted as follows to adopt this new provision:
Town Council President Alvin Blaylock voted NO
Town Councilman David Flanders voted YES
Town Councilman Gary Watson voted YES
Town Councilwoman Virginia Voted YES
Town Councilman Roger Wade Voted ABSENT
