Hobart candy company wins initial approval for expansion plan
Albanese Confectionery is moving forward with its multiphase expansion plan, having received initial approval for a new planned unit development from Hobart City Council on Wednesday with its proposed site plan up for review by the plan commission on Nov. 4.
The new PUD, which City Planner Ross Pietrzak said replaces the original one, still needs to be approved on second reading.
The City Council had approved a rezone request for the property in May.
The first phase of the expansion would entail a 304,000-squarefoot addition attached to the current building, It would extend to the east and would include additional manufacturing and warehouse space, with some additional parking to the rear of the building.
The second phase would be for an automated vertical warehousing center that could be 150 feet high.
The third phase would include two multi-tenant retail buildings.
James Dragon, director of engineering for the maker of Gummi Bears and other candies, said the company has purchased the second of two houses located behind its current building on U.S. 30 and would be extending the berm to continue to block the growing factory and retail center from neighbors behind it.
Councilman Mark Kopil, D-1st, said Dragon has always responded to neighboring residents and their various concerns.
“I look forward to seeing this go through,” Kopil said.
In other matters, several residents at the meeting applauded as the council unanimously denied owner Kerrie Hale’s request to relocate her Kaboom fireworks store from 4001 W. 37th Ave. to the former Diner’s Choice location at 3821 W. 37th Ave. The move would have been from a site by Interstate 65 to a residential area.
Councilman Chris Wells, R-5th, who represents the area, cited a letter he received from neighboring residents opposing the move and the fact that the Indiana Legis
lature will be looking at possibly raising the amount of fireworks that could be sold at a location as reasons for voting against Hale’s move.
“I don’t think it would be safe for a residential neighborhood,” Wells said.
Hale said she’s operated a successful business out of the current location for 10 years and would remain there if the relocation was denied.
The council also doled out checks to three nonprofits in the city with money the city received through the federal American Rescue Plan.
Hobart Food Pantry and the Humane Society of Hobart each received $15,000 for the work they did through the pandemic, and Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited received $10,000.
Exceptional Equestrians, which has therapy horses for persons with disabilities of all types, suffered a hardship when heavy snow caused its barn to collapse. No horses were injured.