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New Carlisle resident tells commissioners $50M diverging‑diamond intersection is unnecessary, warns of industrial sprawl
Summary
Dan Caruso of New Carlisle urged the commissioners to oppose a proposed $50 million diverging‑diamond intersection at Lisonbee and State Road 2, calling it unnecessary and saying it would encourage industrial sprawl; he cited a local opposition turnout to a prior project and urged no more agricultural land rezoning in parts of the county.
Dan Caruso of New Carlisle addressed the board during the public comment period on Nov. 12 and criticized a proposed diverging‑diamond intersection project at Lisonbee and State Road 2 that he said is budgeted at $50,000,000.
Caruso argued the intersection is unnecessary, would encourage industrial sprawl, and cited shifting construction activity around Amazon and GM projects as evidence the intersection may not be needed. He urged the board to stop rezoning agricultural land to industrial in Olive Township and New Carlisle.
Caruso said the funding sources he understands include $31,000,000 from the state, $7,000,000 from Amazon and $12,000,000 from St. Joseph County — a breakdown he presented as his understanding during public comment. He said residents showed up in large numbers opposing a Microsoft project in Granger and predicted similar opposition if the county advances the intersection and expanded industrial zoning without ample public input.
The board did not take formal action on the intersection at this meeting; Caruso’s remarks were part of the public comment record.
