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Grant County APC finds Westside Economic Development Area inconsistent with comprehensive plan
Summary
After lengthy debate about farmland preservation, acreage and financing mechanics, the APC voted that the proposed Westside Economic Development Area does not conform with the Grant County comprehensive plan and the applicant withdrew a second EDA submission for revision.
The Grant County Area Planning Commission voted on Feb. 2, 2026, that the proposed Westside Economic Development Area (EDA) did not conform to the county comprehensive plan. The redevelopment applicant (presented by Augusta Consulting) had proposed a large area in the unincorporated west side of the county to be designated for infrastructure investment and possible incremental-tax allocation to support future development.
Augusta Consulting’s Brad Bockel and attorney Dustin Meeks of Barnes & Thornburg explained the proposal and the limited role of the APC: the commission must determine whether the EDA’s economic development plan conforms with the comprehensive plan, not whether to rezone or to approve specific projects. Meeks said the package focuses mainly on infrastructure gaps (water, sewer, roads) and the creation of an allocation area so incremental property-tax revenue could be used to fund long-term infrastructure financing in coordination with the redevelopment commission and county commissioners.
Commissioners questioned the Westside map’s large footprint and objected that much of the proposed area is prime farmland and may conflict with comprehensive-plan language encouraging preservation of agricultural land and redevelopment of blighted parcels. One attendee gave an estimate that two farm fields in the plan represented roughly 425 acres. Legal counsel explained a carve-out on the map for parcels likely to be annexed by the city of Marion; annexation alters jurisdiction and revenue allocations in the event debt were issued.
After discussion, a commissioner moved that the Westside EDA did not align with the Grant County comprehensive plan, the motion was seconded, and the roll-call vote carried. Following the vote, the redevelopment team said it would withdraw the second EDA submission (the I-69/State Road 26 area) and return with a revised, smaller map responding to the APC’s feedback.
The APC’s finding is a recommendation in the statutory EDA process; the redevelopment commission and the county commissioners retain subsequent roles in the EDA and any financing steps.
Next steps: The applicant will revise maps and return to the Redevelopment Commission and APC with a narrower proposal for further review and public hearing.
