Latest news with #UnifiedDevelopmentOrdinance
Chicago Tribune
14-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Union Township residents show up in force to protest data centers proposed for rural community
The Porter County Expo Center was a mass exercise in solidarity Tuesday evening as over 1,000 Union Township residents crammed into the main ballroom to vehemently oppose two data centers proposed for Wheeler. The sea of orange T-shirts that read 'Wheeler Country Not Corporate' covered nearly every body in the 530 chairs, while hundreds more stood on three sides around them. That visual message was audibly reinforced at a deafening level as the crowd cheered their neighbors who spoke against the proposal and booed a NIPSCO official and other business leaders who spoke in favor of it. The town hall was organized by the Porter County Plan Commission as an extra step not required by state statute to allow petitioner QTS to hear the questions, concerns, and feedback from residents as it finesses its application for a planned unit development that would allow for changes to the county's Unified Development Ordinance through a vote of the Board of Commissioners. While the Plan Commission will run the majority of the application process it is strictly an advisory body, meaning it will take a vote to make a non-binding favorable or unfavorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners which has the final say. 'I know a lot of people are impatient and they want it to stop now,' said Porter County's Director of Development & Storm Water Management Mike Jabo, 'but there's a process.' The proposed projects are being called Jeremiah A and Jeremiah B. Jeremiah A is proposed for a 351.85-acre parcel at the northeast corner of County Road W 450 N and County Road N 750 W owned by John Loxas of Hammond. Jeremiah B is proposed for 434.46 acres owned by Johnson Sunnybrook Farm, LLC and Ceres Cedar Creek Farm, LLC, of Hobart, at the southeast corner of W 450 N and N 650 W due north of Union Township Middle and High schools. QTS, a Kansas City-based data center owner, operator, and developer, was given 45 minutes to make a presentation. The formal petition came from AXPK, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the property owners who would transfer ownership upon adoption of the ordinances. Attorneys for AXPK filed papers with the county naming QTS as an affiliate. Nick Blessing, of the land policy and development department for QTS, started off with a lot of talk about core values. 'Integrity, character, and trust are foundational to every relationship,' he said while two women who live in Union Township and serve the children in the cafeteria at Union Center Elementary chuckled over his remarks in the middle of the audience. Upon his mention of QTS taking a team of boys from one of its data center towns to the Little League World Series someone in the audience muttered, 'He's gaslighting.' To talk of the installation of a 50-foot American flag on a 'Freedom Wall' another said, 'Oh big deal!' And to his claims that the company's data centers provide 'very skilled labor jobs' and 'highly skilled technology jobs,' someone shouted, 'That's a lie.' Blessing said 125 to 175 full-time permanent jobs were anticipated at the sites upon completion. He also said the county could expect $10 million in tax revenues upon full buildout. He then passed the presentation to his colleague Chris Kapper of the predevelopment team who addressed a series of particular concerns, including building height, setbacks, and site lines. Building height in the proposed light industrial zone would be 75 feet, plus additional height for mechanical equipment. 'We understand that is what is causing some angst,' Blessing said. A 32-foot landscaping berm with a 5-foot elevation change from the road level is proposed. 'We envision you will be able to shield the view of the development at maturation in about 10 years,' he added. He explained that setback plans have been expanded to 2,000 feet from the nearest school building, 1,000 feet from the nearest ball field, 100 feet from agriculture, 200 feet from residential development, and 500 feet from school property. The audience was unimpressed. After a few brief remarks from Blessing regarding noise and EMFs the meeting was turned over to public comment. What had been planned for two hours eventually stretched 45 minutes over schedule as moderator and Plan Commission President Rick Burns failed to maintain control of the event. While the audience was originally told each speaker would be given a maximum of two minutes to speak, some were haphazardly given up to five because they were deemed to have special status, such as a physician, or the crowd demanded they be allowed to continue. Rex Richards, president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, spoke first. 'I'm here to compliment the county on going through this type of process,' he said. 'If you need to hire experts to help please consider doing that.' NIPSCO's Rick Calinski, director of public affairs and economic development, got big boos when he introduced himself next. He said NIPSCO's Generation Company is pursuing the separation of the cost of infrastructure for large projects like data centers from that of regular customers. Several county officials were in attendance, including the entire Board of Commissioners, Treasurer Jimmy Albarran, and County Council members Red Stone, R-1st; Michelle Harris, R-At-Large; Mike Brickner, R-At-Large; and Andy Vasquez, R-4th. Vasquez was the only one to speak. 'If it comes to me for a vote for an abatement, my answer is no,' he said. Speakers made a variety of points including statements that the project would not be a data center, but a hyper-scaled data center the size of many WalMarts and that Blackstone, which is considered by many to have contributed to the 2008 housing crisis, bought QTS in 2021. Porter Township School Corporation Superintendant Stacey Schmidt joked that despite Union Township Bearcats being their arch-rivals, her community did not support a data center being thrust upon them. 'Parents send our most precious asset (to school),' she said. 'School safety is lacking in your presentation.' Union Township resident Chris Navetta summed up the ethos of the crowd. 'I've moved here for this and I've never been more proud of Wheeler. These are your constituents.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weddington mayor breaks tie to deny 62-home development near eagle habitat
WEDDINGTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A 167-acre housing development was denied after the mayor broke the Weddington Town Council's tie Monday night. Luxury home builder Toll Brothers proposed building 62 homes on the site on both sides of Weddington Road west of Baron Road. The Weddington Crossing development would have had 1-acre lots after amendments to increase their size. Council members Jeff Perryman and Brannon Howie voted to approve the conditional rezoning, while Tom Smith and Darcey Ladner voted against it. Mayor Jim Bell's vote was required, and sided with Smith and Ladner. Trader Joe's expected to be part of planned Matthews mixed-use development The development was originally presented the board in November 2023. There have been three significant lot-count revisions: from 93 to 82 to 70, and finally down to 62. The latest change lies outside the 660-foot buffer around an eagle habitat. The original application was for a conservation subdivision with significant areas for tree-save. The lot sizes are beyond what is required by the town's Unified Development Ordinance. Since the lots were proposed to be 40,000 square feet or larger, town leaders determined they were in compliance with the Land Use Plan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County postpones meeting on data center proposal to get more information
Porter County officials will not address a proposed data center possibly in Wheeler at the March 26 Plan Commission meeting, citing the need to do their homework on the proposal and not rob a previously scheduled item of its due. 'We never published the agenda with them on it,' said Mike Jabo, Porter County's director of planning and stormwater management. He said the petitioner, which has already filed with the county, requested placement on the March 26 agenda. However, a subdivision seeking approval is expected to draw a large crowd that evening. 'I think the people who were already scheduled to be at the meeting would not get their due,' Jabo said, adding that the county might need a larger venue when the data center is discussed. 'The commissioners chamber would probably not be suitable to hold that meeting.' A date to address the proposed data center has not been chosen. The Post-Tribune, through an Access to Public Records Act request, is awaiting an opportunity to review the data center application. Under the county's Unified Development Ordinance, a petitioner has to go before the Plan Commission if it does not meet the zoning requirements for a project. Residents in Chesterton, Burns Harbor and, most recently, Valparaiso, have fought back against data centers proposed for land adjacent to residential areas over concerns about noise, bright lights, and their requirements for water and other resources. A rezoning request would have a first hearing where the public may comment. Property owners within 500 feet from any property line of the parcel in question would receive a formal letter informing them of the hearing, while other forms of advertisement are also employed. 'What we have is a very publicly-involved process,' Jabo said. The plan commission forwards a recommendation either favorable or unfavorable to the Porter County Board of Commissioners who would then have two readings, the first at a public hearing, while the second does not require a public hearing. 'They weren't happy that that meeting was canceled,' Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, said of the petitioner, 'but we need time to do some of our own homework. We're talking about a generational decision here.' Biggs said several companies have expressed interest in developing data centers in Porter County, but he, Porter County Council President Andy Vasquez, R-2nd, and County Attorney Scott McClure have met with representatives from one of them. 'They're from out west somewhere,' he said. 'There was no talk of what they'd pay in taxes. There was no talk of where they'd be located,' he added. 'The rumor is it would be out there in the Wheeler area and it very well may be, but they had not disclosed that.' Should a data center be approved for Porter County, Biggs said it would be a 'game-changer' and the largest economic development project the county has taken on since the development of Bethlehem Steel. He said while the county is absolutely committed to responding to public sentiment – 'We've already done that with solar, telling them to go away.' – every option needs to be fairly considered to meet the state's growing demands that counties become more fiscally independent. 'We're already having the discussion on raising the income tax, which is going to be less popular than data centers,' Biggs said. Jabo and Biggs have talked about chartering a bus to visit a data center to witness noise levels and see how they're kept. Biggs promises, particularly to the communities that would potentially be affected, that the county would not approve anything detrimental. 'I hope we have proven ourselves with solar,' he said. 'Please allow us just to do our job. Let us process this.'
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centerville bans recreational cannabis dispensaries, keeps medical options open
Mar. 19—Centerville is prohibiting adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries, but won't do the same for medical marijuana dispensaries. "City council's goal has always been to make decisions that best serve the health, safety and welfare of Centerville residents," Mayor Brooks Compton told the Dayton Daily News. "After thorough research and discussion surrounding Ohio's highly-regulated medical marijuana law, we believe allowing access to prescribed treatments for patients aligns with our commitment to supporting community well-being while maintaining responsible local control." Centerville City Council voted unanimously to block recreational cannabis dispensaries, but voted 4-3 to not extend the ban to medical marijuana dispensaries. Voting "yes" to ban such businesses were council members Belinda Kenley, Jennifer McLaughlin and John Palcher. Voting not to ban them were Compton and council members Mark Engert, JoAnne Rau and Bill Serr. The move comes after city staff presented regulatory options to council and determined that both measures are "in the best interest of the city for protecting the public health, safety and welfare" of its citizens. Ohio legalized medical marijuana in September 2016 via House Bill 523. However, Centerville's city council placed a hold on medical marijuana businesses in August 2016, extended it in May 2017, and let it expire. Even after the moratorium ended, medical marijuana was not included in the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which guides local land use, zoning, and planning. In November 2023, Ohio legalized recreational marijuana through Issue 2. Adults 21 and older can now buy up to 2.5 ounces at licensed dispensaries or grow up to six plants each (12 per household). Local governments can ban cannabis businesses within their borders, but people can still possess, use or grow marijuana. In November 2023, Centerville council imposed nine-month bans on medical and recreational cannabis businesses to explore regulations. The bans were extended in August 2024 and were set to expire on May 9. For adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries, the council-imposed ban will take effect April 16. Medical marijuana dispensaries will officially become permitted May 9.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New recombination policy takes effect in Lee County
Lee County Government, through its Strategic Services Department, has enacted a new policy for the recombination of property that took effect this week. As of Monday, no property changes will be made to properties described in a recombination plat unless an affidavit of recombination or a recombination deed or a deed of transfer (of the whole combined lot) referencing the new recombination plat is also recorded. Affidavits of recombination, recombination deeds or deeds of transfer must conform to the Unified Development Ordinance standards, as well as all planning and development requirements. Owners are encouraged to consult with an attorney regarding the impact of combining parcels. Recombination plats recorded without an affidavit of recombination or a recombination deed or a deed of transfer will not be acted upon by Strategic Services to effectuate a recombination of the properties. Once parcels are combined, any future subdividing of the resulting parcel will be subject to compliance with all planning ordinances. For questions related to the new recombination of property policy, contact the Strategic Services Department at 919-718-4663.
