Elkhart planning commission recommends annexation, rezoning for 37-acre Northland site

The Elkhart City Planning Commission on May 4 voted to recommend the City Council approve a voluntary annexation and concurrent rezoning for approximately 37.097 acres at the north end of County Road 6 and Northland Drive owned by Northland and Rei LLC.

Staff told the commission the petition requests annexation under Section 2911B and cites "Indiana code 3643" in its findings; the application would change the parcels from Elkhart County A1 Agricultural District to M1 Limited Manufacturing District to allow a storage yard for RV frames and a potential future building expansion. Staff said the property is 27.67% contiguous to existing city limits, meets contiguity requirements, and that the annexation will not create additional cost to the city according to a fiscal plan prepared by Baker Tilly.

Deborah Hughes of Surveying and Mapping, representing the petitioner, said the immediate plan is a low-intensity storage yard for lightweight RV frames and that the south-end house facing County Road 6 would not change. Project manager Ron Belchner described the stored items as "just a bare frame" and confirmed there would be "no fluid, no liquid, no axles, no grease," stressing the items are not fully equipped vehicles.

Commissioners asked whether the site is connected to city water and sewer and whether the storage surface would be paved. Planning staff and the petitioner said the site is not currently connected; future buildings would connect to city utilities when developed, and the initial storage area is expected to remain on vegetation (part of the site lies in the floodplain) rather than a paved surface. Staff noted technical surfacing and stormwater matters would be addressed during technical review.

During public comment, resident Dan Madison of 24539 County Road 6 said he opposed the annexation and asked that his previously submitted letter be included in the record. Staff confirmed receipt of the letter before the public hearing closed.

After discussion and clarification that today's review is a quasi-judicial check for code compliance and that the City Council will make the final decision, Commissioner Jones moved and Commissioner Micheller seconded a "do pass" recommendation to the council covering both annexation and rezoning. The commission conducted a roll call vote and the motion passed. The commission then adjourned.

The City Council will receive the Planning Commission's recommendation and is the decision-making body for annexation and rezoning. No City Council action date was specified in the record.