Commission hears updates on Kingsbury expansion, 300 North hookup issues and Cobblestone hotel land swap

LaPorte County redevelopment staff on June 25 updated the Redevelopment Commission on multiple development and infrastructure projects, including a potential commercial-connection issue at 300 North, continued planning at Kingsbury Industrial Park, status of the 39 North senior-living project and a proposed Cobblestone Hotels land swap that would involve property owned by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Staff (Matt Reardon) said the commission has received payment tied to the Luvs travel center project, meant to cover a Generac pump station and related utility extension, and that the payment should appear on the next treasurer's report. Reardon and other staff reported a separate concern: a will‑serve letter that had authorized hookups to a pressure main on 300 North was said to have been rescinded by the Michigan City Sanitary District, potentially blocking commercial connections for a nearby project.

"This is all news to me," a staff member said regarding the rescission, and staff said they would follow up with Michigan City and the project's engineer. Staff suggested a grinder pump and check valve as a possible engineering workaround if the district maintains its position.

Commissioners discussed Kingsbury Industrial Park (KIP), where staff said legal attachments, easement documentation and roadway documents are in hand and that the team will work with attorneys and engineers to secure easements and cost estimates. Staff said they could bring a second-amendment package for the Kingsbury plan — including an expanded map and legal language — to the next meeting to begin formal action.

Questions from commissioners focused on infrastructure needs for prospective tenants: power capacity and sanitary service are limiting factors for heavy industrial use, and staff noted that tax-increment participation has been the commission's preferred mechanism to finance significant utility upgrades. Commissioners and staff also discussed access limitations into the park and ongoing efforts to identify a secondary ingress point; staff said negotiations about a rail easement remain unresolved and may be revisited at the next meeting.

On 39 North, staff reported the senior-living project is continuing and that the city is coordinating required water improvements. Staff also said Ascend remains interested in exploring a data-center investment at the interchange and that staff connected the prospective investor with NIPSCO for power discussions.

Regarding the Cobblestone Hotels proposal, staff said the developer (Cobblestone Hotels of Wisconsin) has expressed interest in a hotel near Serenity Springs. Because the county had requested property currently owned by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for the development, staff said a land swap is the likeliest path forward and that the exchange would follow INDOT's process for property used for service and laydown.

Staff also reported follow up on a Superfund-impacted area: trustees told staff there are deed restrictions on some parcels, ongoing plume testing and multiple private owners. Trustees said the federal government does not own the particular parcels discussed; staff said they would seek written confirmation about whether a referenced 750‑acre tract is included in the Superfund settlement.

No formal decisions were made on these development items; staff identified follow-up tasks including outreach to Michigan City, further engineering review for KIP infrastructure, and preparing materials for the Kingsbury plan amendment.