Residents press Hobart leaders for environmental transparency as council advances large rezoning and PUD

Mayor Huddlestun and the Hobart Common Council held first readings April 15 on two major land-use proposals and heard sustained public concern about environmental review and transparency.

Paul Thurston, representing Becknell Industrial, described a proposed planned unit development (PUD) for roughly 26.78 acres at the southwest corner of 61st Avenue and Liverpool Road. The Plan Commission recommended approval with the condition that data-center language be removed and that Becknell increase screening and landscaping. Thurston said the project would include four buildings with an estimated 150 construction jobs and roughly 330 permanent jobs. The council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-07 by voice and roll call (motion by Mr. Kara, seconded by Mr. Waldrop; all aye, 6-0).

The council also approved on first reading Ordinance 2026-06 to rezone about 138.98 acres north of Clay Street and U.S. 30 (the former US 30 drag strip) from R-2 to M-1 for Clay 138 LLC. Clerk-Treasurer Longer summarized Plan Commission conditions that the developer must provide a full development agreement and cover the cost to widen Clay Street to four lanes with curbs, gutters and sidewalks, extend water and sanitary sewer along Clay Street, cover utility connections for affected residents, and acquire a specific parcel on the west side. The first reading was approved (motion by Mr. Claussen, seconded by Mr. Kara; all aye, 6-0).

Several residents used the public-comment period to press the council for additional safeguards. Resident Angelita Soriano said she supports development but asked the council to require independent environmental and health‑impact assessments, particularly where wetlands and flood plains are nearby, and to disclose who signed nondisclosure agreements related to the project. "There should be transparency about environmental data," Soriano said. Council member Mr. Waldrop responded that signing NDAs is routine for larger projects; Mayor Huddlestun said he has met with Soriano and described his outreach as transparent.

Resident Joe Conn raised separate concerns about potential ongoing remediation at a former Clark station on 10th Street and asked whether environmental assessments had been completed for the annexation petition heard earlier in the meeting; Attorney Richard Anderson said environmental issues remain the property owner's responsibility. Patricia Corey asked about building emissions and mentioned alleged ammonia tanks; Mayor Huddlestun clarified there are no ammonia tanks outside and referred to a Northwinds cooling building instead.

Other residents, including Barbara Koteles, urged caution about siting large facilities near family neighborhoods and criticized what she described as decisions that can harm nearby residents. Calvin Fulton asked the city to address truck speed and noise — including jake braking — and suggested the city consider automated traffic-enforcement tools to share data with police.

The council did not vote on final rezonings at the meeting. The voluntary annexation petition for a 6.66-acre parcel (Hobart Property Holdings II LLC) was the subject of a public hearing; the mayor closed the hearing after a resident asked whether environmental assessments had been completed and said an ordinance on that annexation will be read at the May 6, 2026 meeting. Mayor Huddlestun and staff repeatedly stated that state, federal and local protections apply to development projects.

The council’s actions leave multiple procedural steps outstanding: both the Clay Street rezoning and the Becknell PUD advanced on first reading with Plan Commission conditions; the annexation will return for ordinance reading on May 6. Residents asked for independent impact studies and public disclosure of NDAs; the record reflects council members describing NDAs as routine and the mayor referencing prior meetings with concerned residents.