In Greenwood, Home Projects Might Need Neighbors' OK

GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Greenwood's city council is considering an ordinance that would require homeowners to get approval from their neighborhood association before obtaining a city permit for home additions.

The idea was prompted by several neighborhood squabbles. The city's planning director, Ed Ferguson, cited an example in which a man built a detached structure with steel siding in a neighborhood with homes that were all brick and stone.

"It looks like an agricultural pole barn that should be out in the country somewhere," Ferguson said.

The ordinance would prevent a homeowner from using a city building permit to ignore the wishes of his or her neighborhood association or any other committee that enforces neighborhood standards, 6News' Ben Morriston reported.

Some older neighborhoods in Greenwood don't have such associations, so city officials will urge those neighborhoods to create them, Morriston reported.

Greenwood resident Janice Picklesimer said she likes the proposal.

"I'm not against people if they want to just do a small something, but if they're going to do a big addition on their home, I think the neighbors should know about it," she said.

Another city resident, Fran Wilhelm, said he didn't like the idea.

"It would be more like having a condominium association. If you live in a condominium, I could understand. But not in a neighborhood. I don't think it's a good idea," Wilhelm said.

The city council is expected to approve the measure, Morriston reported.