Zoning Approvals Clear Path for Regional Wellness Center

Jasper officials cleared key zoning hurdles this week to move forward with the City’s new Regional Wellness Center.

At their meeting this week, the Jasper Board of Zoning Appeals held a public hearing regarding property at 900 W 15th Street. The City of Jasper, as owner and petitioner, sought a special exception to allow a community center in a conservation park district and a variance to allow a lot coverage exceeding 10%. The property in question would be used as the site of the new Regional Wellness Center.

Brad Eckerle of Brosmer Land Surveying spoke on behalf of the City. He said in early 2025, 10 acres of a tract on the north side of 15 th Street was rezoned from R2 to conservation park. There was a land transaction of the property to Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools, and ownership subsequently reverted back to the City of Jasper in 2024. The tract is situated between Jasper High School and the Parklands, with road frontage on 15 th Street. There were no questions or comments from the members of the public. Both the special exception and variance were approved.

In the second agenda item for the evening, Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools, Owner and Petitioner, located at 1520 ST. Charles Street, sought an exception for its parking lot. A public hearing was opened to discuss the request. Specifically, GJCS asked for a special exception use of the City’s UDO to allow a recreational athletic facility with new parking lot improvements in an R2 zoning district. The school’s parking lot, which is part of the school’s athletic complex, would provide a secondary entrance to the Wellness Center on the west side. The shared use of the parking lot would require the exception, since it is essentially an expansion of the athletic facility.

In the public comments, John Collins, a resident on Emily Drive, expressed concerns about the unlocked gate that accesses the gravel road. The gate is not monitored, and the road is continually accessed as an access to the athletic center, often resulting in high speeds in the residential neighborhood. Collins said that previous requests to the city and school board had not resulted in any action. He explained that he expects the new improvements to result in the gravel road as being used as an unintended back door access to the Wellness Center, exacerbating the existing issue.

Eckerle said that the plans call for the removal of the gravel road, which will be replaced by grass. Officials will still have maintenance access through the gate, but this is expected to solve the traffic flow problem. To address the issue before construction, the BZA will request that the school board commit to locking the gate. The special exception was approved, with the condition that the gravel drive be removed once the second egress is established.

Conceptual images of the Wellness Center were also presented. The ground floor will feature 3 gyms, childcare, a multipurpose break room and teaching kitchen. On the second floor, there is an elevated track surrounding the 3 gyms. The Center’s secondary entrance will connect to the high school’s parking lot on the eastern side of the athletic complex. The Center’s construction is expected to begin in late spring or summer, with a current expected completion date at the end of 2027. The parking lot expansion is planned for Fall of 2027, with a similar completion.

For more information on these and other updates, visit jasperindiana.gov or JasperGov-Indiana on Facebook.

- By Drew Hasselbring