Council annexes 7-acre interchange parcel and advances rezoning to regional commercial

On first reading the Columbus Common Council voted 8-0 to annex a roughly 7-acre property at the State Road 58 and I-65 interchange into the city and advanced a companion rezoning to CR (regional commercial).

City planning staff described the parcel as one of two small lots at the interchange that remained outside city limits and currently zoned Agriculture Preferred. The property is surrounded on all sides by city limits, which staff said satisfies Indiana’s continuity requirement for annexation. Staff told the council city departments can extend services to the site.

The applicant originally asked for industrial zoning (I3) but adjusted the request to CR after planning commission review and discussion about limited direct access to State Road 58. Staff explained access to the property will be via an existing easement that runs through the GetGo convenience-store parcel and around behind that building; the easement previously served a residence on the property.

Planning Commission forwarded both the annexation and rezoning to council with a favorable recommendation (vote reported as 8-1). Staff noted that the particular truck-service use the applicant now contemplates would be a conditional use in CR and therefore will receive further scrutiny at the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The council passed the annexation on first reading 8-0 and then voted 8-0 on the companion rezoning first reading. Staff and applicants said the next steps include the conditional-use review at the BZA if the applicant pursues the truck-service use.

No public speakers addressed the annexation/rezone during the council’s public-comment period for the item.