Redevelopment commission approves DLZ corridor plan contract, hears IEC paving and solar updates

The St. Joseph County Redevelopment Commission approved a professional-services proposal with DLZ to develop a high-level State Road 2 corridor master landscape plan and heard updates on paving work and a solar project in the Indiana Enterprise Center (IEC).

Staff said that after construction and purchasing phases for IEC projects, the remaining needs include coordinated theming, landscaping, signage and other elements to integrate multiple sites. The DLZ proposal was presented as a high-level, conceptual plan with "buffet elements"—options the county could select to balance appearance and long-term maintenance. Staff asked for approval of the phase of the study, which totals $75,200.

Commissioners raised questions about legacy maintenance costs and whether designs would be maintainable over the long term; staff acknowledged that TIF cannot fund long-term maintenance and that plans must consider someone else’s ongoing upkeep. The motion to approve the DLZ professional-services proposal was moved, seconded and passed on a roll-call vote recorded as 'Mister Lane — Aye,' 'Mister Horvath — Aye,' and 'Mister Jordan — Aye.'

Staff also reported that earlier authorization of $1,800,000 (initially for a highway garage) was repurposed to paving projects in the IEC, listing roads paved or planned and noting the resurfacing benefit—particularly on Edison Road where extensive patches from gas-line work were smoothed. The commission heard that $1.8 million improved multiple roads but also that paving funds are limited and cannot cover extensive ongoing needs.

Finally, staff noted a ribbon-cutting for the Honeysuckle solar project on Oct. 17 and said payments to schools and other taxing units under the TIF model should start flowing into the allocation area next year. The commission also scheduled a special meeting for Oct. 22 to open bids for a water treatment plant project and to address financial matters.