Warehouse development gets OK even with residents’ misgivings

A six-warehouse development on 156 acres at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street in Hobart is now a go despite residents’ protests and its mayor’s trepidation.

The City Council’s vote for the LaGrange, Illinois-based Becknell Industrial’s rezone remained 4-3 on second reading — with Councilmen Mark Kopil, D-1; Josh Huddlestun, D-2 and Lino Maggio, D-3, still casting “No” votes — as it did on first reading at the June 1 meeting. Residents remonstrating the project were hoping, however, that Councilman Chris Wells, R-5, would flip his vote to “No” because he said he voted “Yes” June 1 to buy a little more time to run the numbers.

And those numbers were just too good to ignore, especially for his district, which he’s previously said can’t continue to get nickeland-dimed by fees.

“The first two buildings alone are worth $11 million, and that’s without personal property inside,” Wells said. “My side of town is suffering, and once the (tax increment financing district) ends, my taxes go down because of the property tax caps. “The numbers work. That’s where I’m at.” Councilman Dan Waldrop, D-At-Large, said he understands that whenever something’s going to be built in or near a residential area, the people living adjacent to it will object regardless of what the project is. But for him, it came down to what can Hobart do to grow.

“I don’t see (the project) as that bad,” Waldrop said. “That’s why the bridge (over Colorado near 69th Avenue) is going in, and the setback and landscaping (around the project) make it more palatable.”

Maggio, on the other hand, reminded his fellow councilmen that they’ve turned down at least one other big-ticket project because residents didn’t want it.

“We had an $80 million detention center before us, and it would’ve been a windfall, but we turned It down. There were ‘No Geo prison’ signs all over town, and we listened to the people.

“I’m going to listen to the people.” Resident Bill Eich over Zoom said that he was “a little disappointed” that the council didn’t try harder to envision something else for the property that would benefit the city. Another resident, Molly Arroyo, said that as a realtor, Hobart has now all but guaranteed Merrillville residents who want to move to a better environment won’t choose Hobart now.

“I will be putting (my house) up for sale. No one wants to live there,” Arroyo said.

Mayor Brian Snedecor, who didn’t have a vote in the matter, previously praised Becknell’s other projects but “became troubled” with this project, 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.”

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.

In presenting numbers to the unmoved “No Rezone” crowd June 1, Becknell representative Paul Thurston said that currently, the 156 acres Becknell wants generates $6,982 for the city. If the project goes forward, however, it could bring in $3,723,624 to the city, Thurston said.

Additionally, the project could bring 1,180 jobs to the area, he said.