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County board preliminarily approves stormwater variance for Noblesville police headquarters amid contamination concerns
Summary
Hamilton County Drainage Board gave preliminary approval to a variance that would modify stormwater release‑rate standards for the City of Noblesville’s planned police headquarters at 1700 Firestone Boulevard after city engineers said the design minimizes soil disturbance and avoids known contaminated areas.
The Hamilton County Drainage Board on June 8 gave preliminary approval to a variance that would allow the City of Noblesville to deviate from local stormwater release‑rate standards for the proposed two‑story police headquarters at 1700 Firestone Boulevard.
Deputy Mayor Matt Light and city engineering representatives described the project as a major public‑safety capital investment intended to serve the city for the next 15 to 20 years. Light said the city completed extensive environmental testing and due diligence after acquiring the former Bridgestone Firestone property and that the design includes soil management measures, deed restrictions, vapor mitigation systems and compliance steps with EPA and IDEM requirements.
The city sought a variance from Drainage Board Ordinances 03‑25‑02A and 04‑26‑99C so the project may use surface bioswales and above‑ground detention rather than deeper excavation and conventional underground detention. Steve Cash, representing the Surveyor’s Office, said the request is driven by “unique environmental conditions” at the redevelopment site and that the proposed approach avoids disturbing encapsulated or contaminated soils while providing stormwater quality treatment and a controlled discharge to the Elwood Wilson Drain upstream of known contaminated areas.
Board members pressed the city on long‑term liability, indemnification, and the need for permanent recordkeeping of environmental controls. The Board asked that hold‑harmless agreements, outlet permit conditions and other relevant site‑management documents be maintained in the permanent file and incorporated into permit conditions. The Board also discussed the potential need for future water‑quality monitoring.
Altman moved to approve the preliminary variance request subject to review of hold‑harmless and related agreements and to require that environmental and site‑management documents be incorporated into the outlet permit; Dillinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Cash said the item is an introductory approval and will return to the Board for final action after the requested agreements and documentation are reviewed.
Next steps: city representatives will provide the requested hold‑harmless and site‑management documentation for the Board’s final review at a future meeting.
