Redevelopment Commission Discusses Ind. 15 Projects
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
During its first meeting of 2006, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission met Monday to discuss current improvements and future expectations of the city's northern region along Ind. 15.
A Phend and Brown contract payment was approved by the board for construction and engineering of Ind. 15 improvements. City planner Jeremy Skinner reported a majority of the project was complete, with seeding to be finished later this year.
According to a majority of the commission members, additional improvements to the road likely will be addressed as the area becomes more crowded. Ideas such as deceleration lanes and additional traffic lights were mentioned during discussion; however, Skinner said many steps need to be taken before the plans can be executed.
Members expect the northern region to develop both commercially and residentially in coming years, with numerous businesses interested in land in the developing region.
"Kohl's is a major anchor in that area, and we can expect to see a similar size of anchor business coming in the next couple of years," Skinner said. "Many businesses are playing the waiting game to see how well Kohl's will do.
"There's no indication that businesses won't do well out there, so I'd imagine expansion and development to continue."
Already the construction of a doctor's office, an apartment complex and the expansion by Symmetry Medical Inc. are slated to begin along Ind. 15 within the next 12 months.
Traffic continues to be the main concern of the commission, which will have to adapt to the continuing increase of congestion the region is experiencing. Skinner estimated new traffic lights could be established along Ind. 15 in the next one to two years, pending approval by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
"I've been out in the area a number of times, and it's amazing to see how the changes we've made have improved things," Skinner said. "But we need to continue with these efforts."
Other members felt the current traffic levels were becoming enough of a problem that more improvements were necessary sooner than the two-year projection.
"Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a fatality to make people scratch their heads and and say that something needs to be done," member Savina Kralis said. "I'd rather we prevent that."
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the city is currently contacting Ken Herceg and Associates, South Bend, to evaluate the area and its traffic to see what improvements could be made for a safer and more convenient highway.
Redevelopment members are Kralis, Charlie Smith, Tammy Rockey, Neal Carlson and Kyle Babcock.
The commission will meet again Feb. 6 in City Hall. [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
During its first meeting of 2006, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission met Monday to discuss current improvements and future expectations of the city's northern region along Ind. 15.
A Phend and Brown contract payment was approved by the board for construction and engineering of Ind. 15 improvements. City planner Jeremy Skinner reported a majority of the project was complete, with seeding to be finished later this year.
According to a majority of the commission members, additional improvements to the road likely will be addressed as the area becomes more crowded. Ideas such as deceleration lanes and additional traffic lights were mentioned during discussion; however, Skinner said many steps need to be taken before the plans can be executed.
Members expect the northern region to develop both commercially and residentially in coming years, with numerous businesses interested in land in the developing region.
"Kohl's is a major anchor in that area, and we can expect to see a similar size of anchor business coming in the next couple of years," Skinner said. "Many businesses are playing the waiting game to see how well Kohl's will do.
"There's no indication that businesses won't do well out there, so I'd imagine expansion and development to continue."
Already the construction of a doctor's office, an apartment complex and the expansion by Symmetry Medical Inc. are slated to begin along Ind. 15 within the next 12 months.
Traffic continues to be the main concern of the commission, which will have to adapt to the continuing increase of congestion the region is experiencing. Skinner estimated new traffic lights could be established along Ind. 15 in the next one to two years, pending approval by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
"I've been out in the area a number of times, and it's amazing to see how the changes we've made have improved things," Skinner said. "But we need to continue with these efforts."
Other members felt the current traffic levels were becoming enough of a problem that more improvements were necessary sooner than the two-year projection.
"Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a fatality to make people scratch their heads and and say that something needs to be done," member Savina Kralis said. "I'd rather we prevent that."
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the city is currently contacting Ken Herceg and Associates, South Bend, to evaluate the area and its traffic to see what improvements could be made for a safer and more convenient highway.
Redevelopment members are Kralis, Charlie Smith, Tammy Rockey, Neal Carlson and Kyle Babcock.
The commission will meet again Feb. 6 in City Hall. [[In-content Ad]]