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Redevelopment commission showcases Kingsbury Industrial Park video, outlines TIF updates and outreach plan
Summary
La Porte County staff presented a NIPSCO-supported marketing video for Kingsbury Industrial Park and outlined steps to clarify land conveyance, require public access for incentives and coordinate with the city on the 39 North TIF as revenue sunsets for the district.
La Porte County Redevelopment Commission members viewed a marketing video for Kingsbury Industrial Park and received staff updates on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts and outreach to landowners.
Mr. Reardon, the county staff member leading the update, said the county will pursue more direct meetings with major landowners, bring a surveyor to clarify boundaries and press petitioners to demonstrate public access to parcels before incentives are offered. "We're gonna meet with the majority landowners directly and talk them through it," he said, explaining the county will require proof of public access as part of zoning or incentive considerations. He added condemnation remains an option if conveyance cannot be secured.
The commission screened a marketing piece produced with support from NIPSCO; the video describes Kingsbury Industrial Park as 846 acres with 566 buildable acres, rail access by Canadian National and CSX, and recent county investments of more than $6,000,000 in rail improvements and $4,000,000 in resurfacing of Hop Road. Staff said the video and related materials will be published on the county economic development website and used in targeted outreach to potential investors.
On the 39 North TIF, staff said a city-created overlapping TIF has reset the tax base and that this is the last year revenue will come into the county district; future utility expansion in that area, including a city-planned water tower, will determine whether development proceeds under the city's annexation process. "It would end up being a city function," Mr. Reardon said of the parcel in question.
The materials and staff outreach plan are intended to make incentives and development requirements clearer to businesses and to encourage larger landowners to sign conveyances that would encourage others to follow. Staff also flagged potential edits to the promotional video to highlight both the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/I-90) and I-94 on maps and said they will circulate suggested corrections to the production team.
The commission took no formal policy vote on the materials; staff said a follow-up will be provided and that outreach and negotiations with landowners will continue.
