The Elkhart City Plan Commission on June 2 unanimously approved an amendment to the final site plan for a 106,700-square-foot addition at an existing manufacturing facility at 2900 County Road 6 West.

Staff told the commission that most technical-review comments on the three-phase expansion have been addressed and that only a few minor items remained; staff recommended approval based on findings that the use is permitted in the planned unit development (PUD), conforms with the comprehensive plan’s industrial designation and will not injure public health or property values.

At the meeting, planning staff (Mister Trotter) described the petition as an amendment to the final site plan under section 10 20 10 b and said the addition is proposed on the north side of the campus with additional stormwater areas and underground stormwater equipment. Deborah Hughes, representing the petitioner Serenga Mapping, said the owner is Premier Products LLC (the property was purchased about two years earlier and was formerly known as ProAir) and that the plan shows three building phases, north-side stormwater improvements and a parking expansion for a future Phase 2. Hughes said the facility currently employs about 150 people and the proposal includes 34 additional parking spaces to meet the city requirement, bringing parking to 161 spaces; she estimated the addition might bring “maybe 10” additional employees but said the site will primarily be used for warehouse space.

The commission opened a public hearing; no members of the public spoke. Commissioner Mishler moved final approval; Beecher seconded. Roll call votes recorded Osborne, Beecher, Lawson, Mishler and Erwin in favor; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff noted the petitioner submitted civil plans to the city’s technical review committee, comments were provided and most had been addressed. The commission and staff did not identify unresolved substantive policy issues at the hearing; Trotter said remaining items were minor and would be resolved with city staff before final administrative sign-off.

The approval allows the petitioner to proceed with the three-phase expansion subject to resolving the remaining technical review comments and obtaining any required permits and inspections.