Plan Commission Recommends Rezoning for Ag Operation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
The site at CRs East 1400N and North 100E, north of a planned Milford industrial park, is currently zoned agricultural. Mike Jackson, chief marketing and strategy officer of Ohio-based Trupointe Cooperative Inc., told commissioners the land needs to be zoned heavy industrial in order for his company to do what it does.
He said Trupointe plans to build a grain and chemical fertilizer storage facility with an on-site rail loop, and anticipates it would bring 75 jobs to the area.
But several residents of the area questioned the move during the meeting, some charging that potential smells, noise and light pollution as well as increased traffic would affect property values. They also said they were not notified about the project in advance, and that this was their first chance to speak against it.
And though Milford Town Council wrote a letter to plan commissioners supporting rezoning, remonstrators said they did not speak for everyone in town. A few suggested commissioners postpone their decision or that Trupointe go back to the drawing board.
Bob Bowerman, a Milford resident and grain buyer for Maple Leaf Farms, said Trupointe’s road access would give them an unfair advantage, since Kosciusko County Commissioners approved last month closing sections of Old 15 and CR 1350N bordering the land.
He was also worried about how Trupointe’s development would affect Milford’s industrial property south of it.
“Has the Milford community shot itself in the foot in the development of its own industrial park?” he asked. “Milford is going to live with whatever you guys come up with. I want you to think about that.”
Commission chair Charles Haffner reminded remonstrators that his is only a recommending body – the actual decision on rezoning will be made by the county commissioners during a special meeting Tuesday at 11 a.m. – and noted that residents in agricultural-zoned areas are not guaranteed the same protections from neighboring nuisances as those in residential areas.
Jackson addressed many of the concerns that were raised, noting that Trupointe intends to put funds and land toward widening North CR 100E, where the facility would have two entrances. He said they’re also open to contributing if the county decides to widen CR 1300.
He also acknowledged that there will be some nuisance noise from trains, but said they will not be running in the middle of the night; and site plans include a forested buffer area leaving very little of the facility visible from the road.
He also noted the company could have chosen an Ohio location, but he pushed for this region as an Indiana native. He told the audience Trupointe intends to address as many of their concerns as they can.
“I didn’t come here today thinking there would be just all kinds of welcoming beds of roses,” Jackson remarked. “I’m not sure what the greater good is here, but hopefully, if we can become part of the community, the broader community will find us to be a good neighbor.”[[In-content Ad]]
The site at CRs East 1400N and North 100E, north of a planned Milford industrial park, is currently zoned agricultural. Mike Jackson, chief marketing and strategy officer of Ohio-based Trupointe Cooperative Inc., told commissioners the land needs to be zoned heavy industrial in order for his company to do what it does.
He said Trupointe plans to build a grain and chemical fertilizer storage facility with an on-site rail loop, and anticipates it would bring 75 jobs to the area.
But several residents of the area questioned the move during the meeting, some charging that potential smells, noise and light pollution as well as increased traffic would affect property values. They also said they were not notified about the project in advance, and that this was their first chance to speak against it.
And though Milford Town Council wrote a letter to plan commissioners supporting rezoning, remonstrators said they did not speak for everyone in town. A few suggested commissioners postpone their decision or that Trupointe go back to the drawing board.
Bob Bowerman, a Milford resident and grain buyer for Maple Leaf Farms, said Trupointe’s road access would give them an unfair advantage, since Kosciusko County Commissioners approved last month closing sections of Old 15 and CR 1350N bordering the land.
He was also worried about how Trupointe’s development would affect Milford’s industrial property south of it.
“Has the Milford community shot itself in the foot in the development of its own industrial park?” he asked. “Milford is going to live with whatever you guys come up with. I want you to think about that.”
Commission chair Charles Haffner reminded remonstrators that his is only a recommending body – the actual decision on rezoning will be made by the county commissioners during a special meeting Tuesday at 11 a.m. – and noted that residents in agricultural-zoned areas are not guaranteed the same protections from neighboring nuisances as those in residential areas.
Jackson addressed many of the concerns that were raised, noting that Trupointe intends to put funds and land toward widening North CR 100E, where the facility would have two entrances. He said they’re also open to contributing if the county decides to widen CR 1300.
He also acknowledged that there will be some nuisance noise from trains, but said they will not be running in the middle of the night; and site plans include a forested buffer area leaving very little of the facility visible from the road.
He also noted the company could have chosen an Ohio location, but he pushed for this region as an Indiana native. He told the audience Trupointe intends to address as many of their concerns as they can.
“I didn’t come here today thinking there would be just all kinds of welcoming beds of roses,” Jackson remarked. “I’m not sure what the greater good is here, but hopefully, if we can become part of the community, the broader community will find us to be a good neighbor.”[[In-content Ad]]
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