Indianapolis-based GDI Holdings submitted this rendering to the Hancock County Area Plan Commission with its petition to rezone over 300 acres in Buck Creek Township for seven planned industrial buildings. Submitted image
Indianapolis-based GDI Holdings submitted this rendering to the Hancock County Area Plan Commission with its petition to rezone over 300 acres in Buck Creek Township for seven planned industrial buildings. Submitted image
HANCOCK COUNTY — A developer is once again asking county officials to rezone land for planned industrial buildings, this time with more acreage and structures proposed.

Leaders didn’t approve the firm’s smaller request last year. But since then, land between the site and the county’s booming western sector has been rezoned to an industrial designation, creating what the company calls a consistency with its intentions. The location also butts right up to the line in the sand officials recently drew for where they’d like to see large industrial buildings stop.

Indianapolis-based GDI Holdings is asking the county to rezone just over 300 acres on the north side of County Road 300N and west side of County Road 300W from its current agricultural zoning to an industrial business park designation. A letter of intent filed with the county states the company plans to develop the property for build-to-suit and speculative industrial projects. GDI anticipates seven buildings with an overall investment of $180 million and additional funds toward upgrades to roads and utility infrastructure.

“The real estate is east and north of property being developed with IBP (industrial business park) zoning, and the requested zoning would be consistent with said zoning,” GDI said in the letter.

An attempt to reach GDI for further comment was unsuccessful.

The Hancock County Area Plan Commission is slated to consider the rezone later this month. The commission would vote to send it to the Hancock County Board of Commissioners with a favorable, unfavorable or no recommendation. The commissioners would then have the final say on the rezone at one of their upcoming meetings.

Last year, GDI sought a rezone for nearly 200 acres north of County Road 300N and west of County Road 300W with plans for three buildings totaling almost 2.3 million square feet. The plan commission voted 6-1 for an unfavorable recommendation, with members expressing concerns about development outpacing public safety and infrastructure needs. The county commissioners tabled consideration of the rezone once but never returned it to an agenda.

GDI’s latest request includes the same 200 acres as before, along with about 100 more to the north.

Late last year, the commissioners approved Exeter Property Group’s request to rezone 40 acres at the northeast corner of County Roads 300N and 400W for a planned warehouse. That location is between the land GDI is eyeing and many other sites with large industrial buildings operating, underway or planned.

As the commissioners considered Exeter’s request, they said that any more industrial business park zoning in the area should stop at County Road 300W and not extend farther east.
© 2024 Daily Reporter