Lake County Plan Commission Approves Amended Economic Development Area Near I-65 and SR 2 on August 27, 2026
Lake County Plan Commission Approves Amended Economic Development Area Near I-65 and SR 2 on August 27, 2026
On August 27, 2026, the Lake County Plan Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to approve an amended declaratory resolution (003A-2026) establishing an economic development area (EDA) and allocation area at the intersection of I-65 and State Road 2. The decision followed a prior directive from the commission to reduce the EDA's size, which was accomplished by excluding two areas totaling approximately 880 acres. The resolution had been forwarded from the Lake County Redevelopment Commission after a 4-1 vote earlier that day.
Discussion Items
- Presentation by Tim Brown (Executive Director, Lake County Community Economic Development Department): Brown explained that the redevelopment commission had amended the EDA boundary as requested at the plan commission's previous meeting, reducing it by about 880 acres and excluding two specific areas: the northeastern section and a western section (including Oak Grove Cemetery, also known as the Gypsy Cemetery). The revised boundary was reflected in updated maps and parcel lists. Brown clarified that the EDA does not change land use, zoning, or eminent domain authority; it freezes the property tax base and captures incremental tax revenue from new commercial or industrial development to fund infrastructure improvements (roads, water, sewer) within the district over a 25-year horizon. The fiscal plan includes potential road interconnectivity and capacity enhancements, though not all projects are guaranteed.
- Commissioner Discussion: Several commissioners raised points about the EDA's compliance with the county's comprehensive plan. Commissioner Tippy noted that the board's role was to determine conformance with the plan, not to evaluate economic merits. Brown stated that the EDA aligns with the comprehensive plan's land use designations and focuses development near the I-65/State Road 2 corridor. Commissioner Emerson asked for a clarification that the EDA does not bypass zoning or development regulations, which Brown confirmed. Commissioner Pansy requested display of the revised map (page six of the EDA) to confirm the exclusions.
- Discrepancy Note: The transcript indicates the map shown was one combined boundary excluding two areas, though it appears two separate maps were displayed initially. The final motion referenced the map approved by the redevelopment commission, as clarified by Commissioner Cooke.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Nemeyer moved to approve the amended declaratory resolution 003A-2026 as passed by the Lake County Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Cooke suggested an amendment to clarify that any discrepancies in parcel lists or typos would be resolved using the map submitted by Mr. Pansy (which matched the redevelopment commission's approval). Nemeyer concurred, and the motion was seconded.
- Vote: The plan commission voted 5-0 in favor (Randy Mayor: yes; Frank Gabinas: yes; Jerry Jimpey: yes; Bill Emerson: yes; all present voting aye).
- Next Steps: The resolution will proceed to the Lake County Council and then to the County Commissioners for further approval before returning to the Redevelopment Commission for final adoption.
Meeting Transcript
I'm gonna call this uh meeting of the plan commission to order. Uh let's all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which stands under Godissible with liberty and justice for all the following is the emergency exit announcement in case of an emergency, exit issues courtroom, proceed to the stairs, go to the second floor and exit the building. Do not enter an elevator in emergency. If you require assistance, applying commission play will escort or assist you. Please silence any cell phones during this meeting. If you receive a call during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible to these proceedings. All right. Thank you. We'll call. Randy Meemer? Yeah, here. Rebecca Cooks. Christina Miller. Here. Right now, here. Jerry T. Here. Here. We have a quote. Um communications. Nothing. Um minutes moving on. We'll go to the uh resolution in front of us. Under new business item number one Lake County Plan Commission consideration of an amendment. Economic development area. This economic development plan and associated documents were forwarded from the Lake County Redevelopment Commission on July 16, 2026. The documents were subsequently excuse me, uh amended and returned to the Lake County Redevelopment Commission to further consideration on August 19, 2026. The request is approval of the amended declaratory resolution number 003A 2026 of the Lake County Redevelopment Commission. The purpose is to an economic development area and associate allocated area at or about the intersection of I-65 and state road two. Please go forward to identify yourself and make your presentation. Good afternoon. Tim Brown, executive director of Lake County Community Economic Development Department, and we administer the uh agendas and the items through the redevelopment commission. Um at your meeting, uh last meeting, I think it was the 19th, wasn't it? Uh you suggested that we amend the plan by making it smaller. It reduces about 880 acres, plus or minus. Uh changes the boundary a little bit. We did exactly as you directed. Uh exactly what was on the uh screen. We took that, sent it to our consultants, they amended the maps, they amended the plan, they reduced the parcel list, so all the parcels that are uh in that area that was taken out are now not on the parcel list anymore. Um and then they presented it, we presented that to the commission today at their 10 a.m. meeting. Uh they had some questions. There were some folks here. There was about I don't know, 25, maybe 30 folks at the meeting. Uh answered as many questions as we could. Uh it was not a public hearing, so we just did a QA kind of thing more than anything. Um and then they passed it. There were four out of five members there, and they passed it four to one approved to send it to you. So I scanned it, shipped it over to Ned and Steve, and here we are.
openpublica.com