Plan commission offers favorable recommendation for Monrovia-area development
The Morgan County Board of Commissioners will have the final say in a request to rezone 186 acres of property in Monroe Township from agriculture to industrial.
During the Monday, Sept. 12, meeting of the Morgan County Plan Commission, Michael Sheek, representing GDI Companies, request the property be rezoned to allow construction of four large buildings for light industrial use. The property is located on North Everett Road in Monroe Township.
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Sheek said the four buildings would have a combined area of more than three million square feet under roof and would cost around $200 million to $210 million. He said the company did not have any tennants lined up to occupy the buildings.
Sheek said the company was following the requirements of the county's current zoning code and worked with the Town of Monrovia for services.
Sheek said the current owner of the land and the company had agreed to several conditions that would have to be followed.
The conditions include the restriction that buildings could not be more than 50 feet in height and that light poles could not be taller than 30 feet with light shields that are approved by the International Dark Sky Association.
There is a list of uses that will be prohibited on the property. The lists includes animal and livestock uses, RV park, nursery, self storage, junk/scrap yard, recycling center, gas and fuel related uses as well as waste transfer/incinerator station.
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There is to be dedicated green spaces on the property and drain tiles for surrounding land will not be impacted.
Sheek said the company has discussed the project with the state, which committed to installing a traffic light at the intersection of State Road 39 and County Line Road.
He said there would be retention ponds to hold stormwater on the property, and the company is discussing the project with Hendricks County.
Residents speak
Around six residents spoke against the project.
Two residents said they had recently moved into the area. One resident said he and his family moved to their home in August.
All were unhappy of how the project could impact their lives.
The residents cited property values being impacted and the roads, which they noted were chip and seal, would crumble under the heavy traffic.
One resident, who has lived in his home for more than 60 years, said he did not want to see the farmland destroyed.
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All residents who spoke asked the commission to table a decision on the project until they were able to obtain more information.
After a brief discussion, commission members voted 9-0 to send the request to the commissioners with a favorable recommendation for approval. The recommendation also contains the stipulations the owner and the company previously agreed on.
Other business
The plan commission approved allowing Chester and Mary Wallace to combine the three lots they own on North Pine Song Drive in Washington Township into one lot.
The next scheduled meeting of the Morgan County Plan Commission is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S., Main St., Martinsville.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Plan commission endorses rezone for Monrovia-area development
