Hobart postpones vote on controversial Becknell plan
Mayor Snedecor says he’s ‘become troubled’ with rezoning plan
A redevelopment plan that could bring light industrial businesses and all their truck traffic to 61st Avenue in Hobart has been put on pause, at least for now.
After initially making a motion to approve the development on first reading, the City Council at its Wednesday night meeting voted 7-0 to table the project. Approved at a Plan Commission meeting last month, LaGrange, Illinois-based Becknell Industrial asked the city to a rezone that would allow six warehouses to be built at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street.
The 6-1 vote was a recommendation to the City Council; Commission president Maria Galka cast the lone no vote, citing concerns over traffic after petitioner Paul Thurston of Becknell said the development could draw 200 to 300 trucks a day over a 24-hour period.
Thurston on Wednesday night told the packed room that Becknell could scale the project down further than it is and reminded everyone that whatever was approved, the project “isn’t going to happen overnight.” The last project it did with the city, for example, took 15 years.
“It’s not going to take five years (to complete),” Thurston said. “We would need to build one or two warehouses first to bring in business, but we would not move on until other things are leased. It will take time.
“With Becknell, you’re getting a commodity, and I believe this project will be. I could look someone in the eye and tell them it’s good.”
Councilman Chris Wells, R-5th, after Councilman Matt Claussen, D-At large, motioned to approve it on first reading, said he would prefer to have another council session before deciding; Councilmen Josh Huddlestun, D-2nd, and Dan Waldrop, D-At large, agreed.
“Another meeting isn’t going to change anyone’s opinion, but I want everyone to know what’s not in there,” Waldrop said.
Mayor Brian Snedecor, who doesn’t have a vote in the matter, praised Becknell’s other projects, emphasizing that the company has brought union jobs to Hobart. But over the last few meetings, he “became troubled” with the project, he said, particularly with regard to the infrastructure — or
current lack thereof — in the area.
“We have a lot of moving parts and have had, to some degree, some successes (in getting that infrastructure done). We have commitments,” Snedecor said. “I don’t think we’re ready for this project.
“As of right now, I have no veto power, but I would (veto the project) because we need to do the right thing at the right time.”
Resident Jake Cseke said that while he was glad the council put the brake on, he’s not convinced it still won’t pass.
“Our city has 29,000 people. If there are 200 to 300 trucks per day, in a city that small? We’re not ready for it,” Cseke said. “Our small city will be overwhelmed.”
The council will further discuss the Becknell project in an ordinance meeting at 6 p.m. May 26.
The Plan Commission’s favorable recommendation included two stipulations: that there be no building or pavement on the first 250 feet of the property and no building on the next 75 feet, leaving a 325-foot buffer. Also, the type of uses for the property would be restricted.
“No rezone” signs had popped up throughout the city and a petition opposing the development contained nearly 1,000 signatures. Residents at that meeting speaking in person and on Zoom cited traffic and safety concerns, the possibility of their homes declining in value, air and light pollution coming from the warehouses and the trucks going to and from it, a loss of nature and the animals that now inhabit the property and a fear that this could cause a domino effect, with more warehouses coming into the residential area in the future.
Several asked that the property remain residential, with more housing developments brought in instead. But city officials and commission members said the city’s future use plan has designated the 156 acres on 61st Avenue to be light industrial, with some offices as a buffer, for several years.
City Engineer Phil Gralik said previously that the city has approached Indiana Department of Transportation about an interchange at 69th Avenue, which would take much of the truck traffic off 61st Avenue. He said the city also had approached developers about the property in the past, but they weren’t interested because it wasn’t in the Hobart school district.