Planning committee reviews revised PUD for former Beckton School site; neighbors press for stronger vetting and protections

The Gary Planning and Development Committee on Tuesday reviewed a revised planned unit development ordinance for the former Beckton School property that would rezone the site for light manufacturing and related uses while adding enforceable design and operational limits.

Planning staff and the developer presented a redlined draft that adds timing requirements — “demolition should happen within 8 months; development must commence in 18 months,” and primary infrastructure completed within three years — and a clause requiring trucks to enter and exit from West 20th Street (20 Second Avenue) rather than 20 Third Street, staff said.

Why it matters: The PUD would change the zoning for a parcel that abuts residential blocks. Committee members and nearby residents said they want stronger guarantees that the project will not replicate problems from previous industrial uses on former school sites, while the developer said the revisions address technical and design concerns previously raised by staff.

Corey Sharp, zoning department staff, said the revised ordinance clarifies…