Highlighted area showing the approximately 30 acres of land for annexation, McCordsville Sports Park.
Provided photo
McCORDSVILLE — The voluntary annexation of McCordsville Sports Park was discussed on its first reading and public hearing at the Dec. 12 town council meeting.
The approximately 30 acres is currently a tax exempt property and is located along Ind. 67, just east of Stanley Chevrolet. The area being proposed for annexation also includes the entire soccer park property. The first reading for the ordinance of the annexation passed, 5-0.
Ryan Crum, assistant town manager for McCordsville, said at the meeting that the developer’s motivation is to get the property annexed into the town and to get connected to the sanctuary sewer system.
“They (the developer) are also looking at some potential development along the frontage along of 67, but that’s not necessarily eminent right now,” said Crum at the meeting.
Crum said they are currently drafting a planned unit development (PUD) that would allow commercial development along the frontage of the property. As of the Dec. 12 meeting, they are working to have that and the rezoning for the PUD ready and for a public hearing for the January meeting.
The annexation would then be brought for a second reading and the rezoning for a first reading at the town council meeting in February.
Greg Brewer, town council president, said that he is appreciative of Kert Toler, petitioner and owner of the sports park, for the soccer facilities that are provided to the town and that with this annexation they will be able to expand the borders of McCordsville.
Brewer also said at the meeting that they want to make sure that Toler is able to develop his parcel the way he feels necessary in the future.
According to the annexation fiscal plan, it states that “the Annexation Territory is needed by the municipality for its future development” and that “the intention is for the Annexation Territory to remain a park facility but portions of the Annexation Territory may eventually be developed into minor commercial development (the “Commercial Development”). However, at this time, the timing of the start and eventual build out of the Commercial Development is unknown.”
The fiscal plan also states that “the Town does not anticipate any immediate additional expenditures for the municipal administration due to this annexation as the Annexation Territory is classified as agricultural land and exempt property owned by a charitable organization that is granted an exemption.”
Dr. Bryan Burney pointed out at the meeting that in the fiscal plan, there is mention of a $2 million installation of an upgraded lift station. Mark Wittsman, engineer, explained that this area sits near the proposed regional lift station that was proposed with the Jacobi Farms development and that assuming that development moves forward, there would be a level of participation by the town of that amount.
Wittsman said at the meeting that the exact terms have not been worked out yet in the agreement but that would be the agreed level of participation, whether it be cash or fees.
Another change Dr. Burney saw would change some language in the fiscal plan, and that the language would be modified and brought back at the second reading.
Because of this, the fiscal plan was continued to the next meeting to accommodate changes needed, but will still be before the PUD of the rezone.
