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Residents urge council to oppose rezoning east of New Carlisle; commissioners respond
Summary
Multiple residents, including New Carlisle locals, urged officials to oppose bill 42-25, a proposed rezoning of roughly 1,057 acres east of New Carlisle, saying the change conflicts with town and county comprehensive plans.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the Oct. 28 St. Joseph County commissioners meeting to oppose a rezoning proposal (identified in public remarks as bill 42-25) affecting about 1,057 acres east of New Carlisle.
Dan Caruso, who identified himself as a New Carlisle resident, told commissioners that residents had helped create a New Carlisle comprehensive land use plan that designates the area in question as intensive agriculture. He said the town and county plans should guide zoning decisions and urged representatives on the city council to 'vote the wishes of your constituents and oppose this rezoning.'
Steve Francis, also speaking from the public record, said more than a dozen people spoke at a recent council meeting opposing the rezoning and argued the proposal conflicts with the county land-use plan and New Carlisle's plan. Francis urged greater alignment between public statements and behind-the-scenes actions and asked whether the county economic-development department had been constrained from commenting on related solar ordinance matters.
Commissioner Maxmeyer sharply disputed a suggestion that the board had tried to silence the economic-development department.
'In my opinion, the Department of Economic Development has done its job from day one. It is to bring development to this county,' the commissioner said, and added that the process requires proposals to meet criteria and that staff 'work through the process.'
No formal action on the rezoning was taken by the commissioners at this meeting; callers and in-room residents were told the county council will consider rezoning and any subsequent development agreements or tax abatements at future hearings.
Why it matters: The remarks reflect local opposition to a major rezoning that residents say conflicts with locally adopted land-use plans and signal potential political and legal friction during upcoming council hearings. Several speakers tied the rezoning question to debates over solar development and tax incentives.
Sources: Public comments and commissioner remarks recorded during the Oct. 28 St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting; statements by Dan Caruso and Steve Francis are quoted from the meeting record.
