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Council committee advances rezoning for McKinley site amid neighbor noise concerns
Summary
Petitioners asked to rezone a vacant McKinley Avenue site for a 20,000-square-foot BW Cook Heating & Cooling facility; staff recommended approval and the committee advanced the rezoning despite neighbors' concerns about noise from trucks and dumpsters.
A petitioner and prospective tenant told a St. Joseph County committee they plan to relocate BW Cook Heating & Cooling from Elkhart to a vacant McKinley Avenue site and asked the council to rezone the property to allow industrial and commercial uses.
Pete Augustino, representing the petitioner, said the proposed 20,000-square-foot building would include office space, a training center and warehouse. He said the tenant currently employs about 93 people and expects that number to grow to roughly 110 if the relocation proceeds. The petitioner presented a site plan that includes setbacks and landscaping along residential lot lines and said it would preserve as many trees as possible and include a retention pond.
Area planning staff reported the petition met state law criteria and that the Area Plan Commission recommended approval. Terry O'Brien, an economic development planner, added that about 64% of the tenant's workforce lives in St. Joseph County and that the company does not seek personal-property tax abatement. Staff and the petitioner provided projected tax impacts: an estimated $219,992 in tax savings over 10 years (unclear in the transcript whether this figure represents incentives or tax credits) and $853,000 in projected real property taxes extended over a 20-year period based on planning documents.
Neighbors who remonstrated at the APC and residents who spoke at the committee hearing raised concerns about noise from trash trucks, semi trucks and dumpster operations, particularly during early-morning hours. One attendee asked whether the petitioner would commit to restricted delivery or trash-collection hours; the petitioner said he would "be willing to consider" restrictions but did not make a binding commitment at the hearing. The petitioner also noted required screening and said the plan would limit outdoor storage and provide screening on lot lines.
Council members asked clarifying questions about screening, truck access and how the site ties into nearby collector streets; staff pointed out that the site is adjacent to existing industrial and commercial uses and is across from a fire station. The council moved the rezoning forward with a favorable recommendation by voice vote.
Ending: The rezoning advances to the full council; neighbors' operational concerns were noted but no binding conditions were recorded in the committee transcript.
