Kosciusko Area Plan Commission has questions they want answered before they recommend the rezoning of a tract of land near Milford for heavy industrial development.
The plan commission tabled a request for the rezoning from land owner Harlan Beer Wednesday as a handful of area residents showed up to speak against the request. The property in question is on the east side of Old Ind. 15 and south of CR 1400N in Van Buren Township. Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Beer, told the board the ultimate goal for the property is the development of an industrial park.Snyder said the property is ideal for heavy industrial development.
"There is not very much (heavy industrial) zoning in Kosciusko County because most lots are not suitable," Snyder said.
He told the plan commission the property's proximity and access to the CSX railroad and to major transportation routes - U.S. 6, U.S. 30 and Ind. 15 - are the major factors that would attract heavy industry to the area.
Kosciusko County zoning ordinance allows three types of industrial zoning. Heavy industrial, or I-3 zoning, is the least restrictive; it allows for heavy manufacturing and fabricating, heavy repair and dismantling industries including open land operations and concrete or asphalt plants.
Teresa Brito lives near Beer's property. She said she and her husband, Joel, are not opposed to lighter industrial development allowed by I-1 or I-2 zonings, but fear heavier industry will be harmful to the local environment.
"I am here because I want to save my children's lives and my community and neighborhood," Brito said.
Brito told the plan commission two of her children have serious health issues due to respiratory problems. She said one of her children suffered from seizures until the family installed an air purifier.
"Heavy industry bring heavy pollution," Brito told the board. "To put heavy industry in there is going to hurt not only our family, but also the community in the residential and lake areas."
Robert Bowerman, a member of the Milford Library Board, said he understands the benefits the town stands to gain from development of Beer's land, but he said residents need more answers specifically about how the land will be developed.
"This has moved very fast," Bowerman said. "A lot of people have tried to get answers. If we can't get answers, you can't make an intelligent choice."
Bowerman said he would like to know if development allowed in an I-1 or I-2 zone would bring as much tax benefit to the area as heavy industry. He asked the plan commission to table their recommendation for 60 days to allow residents time to pursue information.
Previously, Brito and Bowerman were part of a group opposed to the ethanol plant that was proposed to be built on the Beer property.
Plan commission member Charles Haffner said the board had received numerous letters opposed to the recommendation or asking for a continuance of the request. He said the board also received a letter from the Milford Town Council recommending the plan commission give their support to the request, however, among the letters asking the plan commission to table the request were letters from town council members Gary Hurd and Robert Cockburn.
The town council's letter was sent after an Oct. 8 meeting, in which Beer and Snyder requested a letter from the town supporting the rezoning. Milford property owner Becky Doll said the community was not given notice because the request was not on the town council's agenda for that meeting.
"We had no public input before this," Doll told the plan commission Wednesday.
The plan commission voted unanimously to table a decision on the matter until Dec. 5.
"I would like to know definitely from the town of Milford where they stand on this," said plan commission member Larry Coplen. "If the town of Milford and the residents don't want it, who am I to shove it down their throats?"
