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Council preliminarily approves TaylorMade distribution facility with neighborhood conditions
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Summary
The Van Buren County Council voted to preliminarily designate a 450,000‑square‑foot TaylorMade facility as an Economic Revitalization Area, endorsing a 10‑year property tax phase‑in while requiring the developer to address traffic, drainage and lighting concerns raised by neighbors.
Van Buren County Council members voted March 4 to preliminarily approve a tax‑phase‑in application for a proposed TaylorMade distribution and light‑manufacturing facility at 6700 Petersburg Road, subject to negotiated neighborhood commitments and a promised clawback provision.
The council heard a presentation from Pat Hickey, economic development director at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, who described the project as a 450,000‑square‑foot build‑to‑suit facility representing about $59 million in private investment and roughly 45 new jobs in addition to 149 retained positions. Hickey said the county’s recommendation was for a 10‑year property‑tax phase‑in to help secure the investment.
Alex Miller of KSM Location Advisors, representing TaylorMade, said the company considered multiple markets and chose Vanderburgh County in part because of the local development partnership with EREP. Justin Lachik of Scannell Properties outlined site plans and said the facility will use directed “shoe‑box” lighting to avoid spillover and that the operation will not use rail service. Developers also described wet detention ponds and compensatory storage designed to reduce peak discharge to Little Pigeon Creek by roughly 79 percent in a 25‑year event.
Several council members and nearby residents pressed developers on roads, stormwater, lighting and noise. One council member asked that the record include the neighborhood questions and that the developer commit to specific fixes. In response, Alex Miller said the developer would work with staff and “outline between now and the [next meeting]” the items to be included in a callback or clawback agreement.
Council members noted state and local regulatory reviews remain (APC, INDOT, DNR) and asked about timing of planned INDOT improvements at the US‑41/Petersburg Road intersection; developers said INDOT’s letting was planned in late 2027 but no specific construction schedule had been supplied. Justin Lachik said the project turnover date for TaylorMade to begin outfitting the building is expected in April 2027, with operations to follow months after.
After asking for the developer’s written commitments on neighborhood mitigation, the council approved the preliminary resolution by voice vote. As a preliminary resolution, the matter will return to the council for final action after required findings, site review and agreement on mitigation language.
