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Plan Commission tables Clay Street industrial rezones after residents raise traffic, pipeline and utility concerns
Summary
The Hobart City Plan Commission on March 5 unanimously tabled two rezoning requests (Petitions 26-02 and 26-03) to rezone land north of Clay Street to M-1 industrial zoning, requiring the developer to provide detailed plans, a traffic study and to commit to widening Clay Street and extending utilities before the commission will reconsider, commissioners said.
The Hobart City Plan Commission on March 5 voted 9-0 to table two companion rezoning requests to change properties north of Clay Street from R-2 to M-1 industrial zoning, citing resident concerns about traffic, noise, a high-pressure natural-gas pipeline and the need for upgraded utilities and right-of-way.
Jason Simon of Wylie Capital, speaking for Clay 138 LLC and Clay 30 LLC, said the sites are identified in the City’s Comprehensive Plan for industrial use and presented conceptual renderings showing large building setbacks, berms and landscaping. Simon told commissioners that natural features — including wetlands and a gas pipeline that crosses the site diagonally — will limit where buildings can be placed and that engineers will address drainage and utility extensions.
During the public hearing, longtime neighbor Robert Wright of 7971 Clay St. said: “I have lived at that location for 60 years” and warned that rezoning could bring “traffic, noise, pollution, litter, more people, the road getting destroyed” and reduced home values; he asked whether residents would be required to tie into city utilities and pressed for protections. A letter read into the record from adjacent property owner Jerry Ossewaarde asked the commission to ensure construction will not jeopardize the high-pressure gas line and requested a vegetative berm buffer, truck routing that favors US 30 and a guarantee that new paving would not increase runoff or flooding on nearby yards.
Patricia Corey of 7203 Colorado St. expressed health concerns about increased truck traffic; Joseph Conn of 910 Lake St. asked whether the site could become a data center and whether the area had been studied. Local business owners spoke conditionally in favor of development if Clay Street and adjacent infrastructure could safely handle truck access.
Commissioners responded by pressing the developer for more detail and infrastructure commitments. Commissioner Dave Vinzant said rezoning without guarantees for road and utility improvements would be premature. Commissioner Stuart Allen proposed — and the commission approved — tabling the petitions with stipulations that the developer be responsible for widening Clay Street to four lanes with curbs, gutters and sidewalks; acquiring needed right-of-way from property owners along Clay Street; extending water and sanitary sewer along Clay Street; and covering the cost for residents who choose to connect to those services. Jason Simon acknowledged willingness to extend sewer and water and to cover connections for residents who want them but said developers need clarity on allowable uses to attract corporate tenants and preferred the straight M-1 zoning over a PUD.
The commission recorded the motion and passed it 9-0. The tabled status requires the developer to provide a traffic study, detailed plans and agreed-upon infrastructure commitments before the commission will proceed with final zoning action.
Next steps: The commission expects to review the traffic study, detailed site plans and any proposed development agreement or PUD text before acting again on Petitions 26-02 and 26-03.
