Justin Schneider, Herald Bulletin
More public information is needed before a proposed ethanol plant moves forward, the Madison County Board of Zoning Appeals decided Tuesday.
During a special meeting, the BZA voted to continue five petitions for zoning variance by Max Bingham and Ultimate Ethanol, LLC until its Nov. 14 meeting. A request for rezoning and three other variance requests were withdrawn before the meeting.
"The board wants to allow more time for us to get information to the public," said Bob Berens, director of site development for Broin Companies, which has partnered with Ultimate Ethanol to construct the plant at the corner of County Road 1300 North and Summitville Road (County Road 100 East) in Monroe Township. "How we choose to do that, they left up to us."
The petitions will come before the board again on Nov. 14 and include variance requests for relief of landscaping, street trees, sidewalks, buffer yard standards and height requirements.
Earlier on Tuesday, the applicants withdrew a rezoning request to go from agricultural status to general industry. Variance requests for relief of sanitary sewer, entrance/drive standards and public water were also withdrawn.
BZA member Bill Maxwell made the motion to continue the five petitions until next month and the motion passed 4-0, with board chair Mary Jane Baker absent. Vice president John Randall said no additional public notice will be given for the November meeting.
Last week, Broin Companies and Ultimate Ethanol made official their intentions to build a $105 million ethanol production facility near Alexandria.
Ultimate Ethanol expects the plant to produce 60 million gallons of ethanol annually, generating gross sales of $100 million. Three to six months into the construction process, the company will begin hiring 38-40 people for high-skilled jobs paying $18 an hour or more.
But a public hearing revealed a substantial amount of public concern surrounding health, safety and other quality of life issues.
"They refused to answer the questions about safety," said Marcia Parker who lives on County Road 1300 North, across the street from the proposed plant. "They told us all about how big the company is and how much they're growing, and they didn't address any of the safety concerns."
On July 14, the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based company filed an initial air permit application with Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Seven area households received letters informing them of the proposed plant.
Neighbors and community members including the Parkers are attempting to set up meetings between residents and Broin officials. A tour of a Caro, Mich., ethanol plant has also been suggested.