Plans call for seven large industrial buildings at County Roads 300N and 300W.
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HANCOCK COUNTY — Officials approved a developer’s request to rezone over 300 acres for seven large industrial buildings spanning over 3.5 million square feet.
The decision came amid continued opposition from those living in the western part of the county who have concerns about how much their surroundings are changing. Leaders, however, maintain that all of the development ultimately provides the most good for the majority of the county.
The rezone site consists mostly of undeveloped farmland on the north side of County Road 300N and west side of County Road 300W. Indianapolis-based GDI Holdings plans to develop build-to-suit and speculative industrial projects. A site plan filed with the county shows seven buildings. One is nearly 740,000 square feet; four are nearly 500,000; and two are just over 400,000.
The Hancock County Board of Commissioners approved the rezone 3-0 after hearing from several opponents Tuesday.
David Clapper, a commercial real estate analyst who lives near the site, referred to a report from CoStar that forecasts Hancock County’s industrial vacancy rate peaking at 24% this year before declining steadily.
“Will they get leased?” Clapper said of all the industrial space being built. “We all hope they do. Because if not, we’re caught on the hook for it.”
The commissioners’ decision rezoned the land from an agriculture zoning designation to an industrial business park designation. Clapper noted the county’s zoning code describes industrial business park areas as having “small-scale manufacturing, construction, production, assembly and other light industrial uses.”
“I find seven buildings and 3.5 million square feet beyond small-scale,” he said.
Melissa Hunt, who also lives near the site, questioned the rationale behind why industrial development continues to be shepherded east of the Mt. Comfort Corridor.
“I wish that the voice of the residents would be heard,” Hunt said.
Pat Sullivan echoed that, adding that he thinks the commissioners are missing an opportunity to reach their populace about the kind of community it wants to grow.
He also said he feels the county’s 2012 comprehensive plan update that leaders are using as a guide, which suggests the proliferation of industrial uses out west, is lacking.
“It looked as if there was no plan of — what are you going to do with the houses that are already there?” Sullivan said.
John Jessup, president of the commissioners, said all of the development ultimately helps the county’s public safety and infrastructure needs.
“I understand that it negatively impacts some people, but it positively impacts thousands and thousands of people, and we have to weigh those things out, and we do that very carefully,” he said.
Marc Huber, a commissioner, pointed to new radios recently purchased for public safety agencies and the county redevelopment commission’s plans to use tax funds from western development toward an ambulance for Buck Creek Township and traffic-congestion improvements at Mt. Comfort Elementary School.
“Things are happening out of this,” Huber said. “It’s not just throwing up warehouses and nothing good coming out of it. The good is hard to see sometimes and a lot of times it happens behind the scenes, but I think there’s more good to come. It’s just going to take a while for everything to come together.”
Bill Spalding, also a commissioner, agreed, adding that the economic development agreements with developers that stem from the projects diminish the toll tax caps take on county finances.
“I am looking as well for what is going to help our county in the coming years,” Spalding said.
The approval came despite the Hancock County Area Plan Commission recommending against the rezone last month.
