Plan Commission recommends annexing Prairie Street Cemetery and adjacent land into Elkhart

The Elkhart City Plan Commission voted to recommend that the Common Council annex roughly 25.85 acres containing the Prairie Street Cemetery and adjacent vacant land for future cemetery expansion.

City planning staff told the commission the annexation petition, filed by the City of Elkhart Board of Public Works, meets Indiana Code contiguity requirements and other statutory tests and would not change the tax rate for other taxing units because the parcel is tax-exempt.

Planning staff described the property as currently zoned R-1 (single-family dwelling district) in Elkhart County and said it would remain R-1 after annexation. Staff also pointed to a fiscal plan prepared by Baker Tilly that found no impact on the tax levy or tax rate of other taxing units because the land is tax-exempt.

Megan Irvin, the city’s chief of staff, told the commission the Prairie Street expansion has no firm timetable. “The Prairie Street expansion does not currently have a timeline, given the financial situation that the city's in with SEA 1. We're evaluating all of our capital projects right now for funding, but we are looking at potentially phasing in expansion and taking on what the city can afford,” Irvin said.

There were no public speakers for the annexation. Commissioner Mishler moved a “do pass” recommendation to the Common Council; Commissioner Lawson seconded. The commission approved the recommendation and recorded an affirmative roll call. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Common Council for final action.

Staff cited Indiana Code 36-4-3 and the petition’s legal description in recommending approval; staff stated the petitioned territory is 33.55% contiguous to the existing city limits, exceeding the statutory 12.5% contiguity threshold noted in the presentation.