The Michigan City Common Council voted unanimously Aug. 19 to approve an order from the Plan Commission that accepts a declaratory resolution by the Redevelopment Commission establishing a consolidated economic-development area tied to the Sola solar project.

Skyler York, the city’s director of redevelopment, said the step is a routine part of creating the tax-increment-financing (TIF) boundary that will secure bond financing previously approved by the council. York explained the sequence: the Redevelopment Commission passed a declaratory resolution, the Plan Commission reviewed it, the council approved the Plan Commission’s order, and the Redevelopment Commission will hold a confirmatory resolution and public hearing in September.

A representative from Barnes & Thornburg, Tom Everett, confirmed the timeline during the meeting and said the Redevelopment Commission will hold its public hearing in September before adopting the confirmatory resolution.

Public comment included support from residents following the project’s public process; Scott Mellon urged council endorsement to allow the project to proceed. A resident asked how long it will take for the city to receive tax revenue from the Sola project; York and the city’s bond counsel said timing depends on project completion and TIF capture and that the Redevelopment Commission’s confirmatory resolution and the project's development schedule will determine receipts.

Action details: Councilman Dabney moved to approve the Plan Commission order; Dr. Cora seconded the motion. The clerk recorded a 9-0 vote in favor.

Why it matters: approval of the declaratory resolution is a procedural but necessary step to lock the TIF boundary and allow the TIF bond the council previously authorized to be repaid from incremental property tax within the established area. City staff said approval clears the path for the Redevelopment Commission’s confirmatory steps and public hearing.

Discussion vs. decision: the council’s vote approved the Plan Commission order; a Redevelopment Commission public hearing and confirmatory resolution are next steps before TIF revenues would be realized.

Ending: the Redevelopment Commission will hold a public hearing in September and — assuming final action there — the TIF bond will move into implementation according to the schedule set by project developers and bond counsel.