SHARPSVILLE — Despite strong public opposition, the Tipton County Plan Commission Thursday night approved a pair of plat vacations, and gave favorable recommendations to county commissioners for a pair of rezone requests in an area along U.S. 31 as the battle wages on between Functional Devices and the residents in Prairie Acres subdivision.
The Plan Commission approved the plat vacations of lots 68 and 69 in section 10 of Prairie Acres. It also sent favorable recommendations on to county commissioners to change zoning at 5769 and 5803 N. U.S. 31 from agricultural and light industrial, and at 105 Wood Drive from agricultural to general business.
Functional Devices expanded from Russiaville two years ago into its current facility between 550 and 600 North, which butts up against the Prairie Acres subdivision, and is hoping to expand again, a venture which could bring 75 new jobs to the county. The firm agreed to purchase three parcels of land directly to the south of its current facility, which used to house Robert Miller and Sons Furniture prior to the new U.S. 31 bypass construction, in hopes of building a warehouse.
The bypass construction left the facility without a direct entrance off of 31, leaving employees with complicated options on how to enter the property. Twelve residents in all — 10 from Prairie Acres — spoke out against the requests, due mainly to safety concerns because Functional Devices' employees cut through the subdivision for access to the facility, creating a safety issue for residents, particularly children. That traffic often includes semi-trailers, they said.
The meeting lasted nearly four hours, and at its height, featured a standing-room-only crowd.
"Indiana did no one any favors here with the lack of access to 31," commissioner Joe VanBibber said. "But, both Functional Devices and Prairie Acres are here to stay. So, how do we protect these people?"
As a result, the plat vacations came with conditions. First, the commission required that the landscaping and buffering requirements be met, which Functional Devices would've been required to do, regardless, due to ordinances. It was discussed in the meeting that a landscaping burm be constructed along the south of Functional Devices to help separate the facility and the subdivision.
The favorable recommendation for the rezone request for 5789 and 5803 N. U.S. 31 came with an additional recommendation that Functional Devices obtain access to 550 N. to try and help alleviate traffic flow through the subdivision.
And, the 105 Wood Dr. favorable recommendation for rezoning also came with the additional recommendation that access be obtained to 550 N., as well as a vacation of access to Wood Drive.
Representatives of Functional Devices said in their public remarks Thursday the facility hoped to create an access road to the facility at some point in the future once the land necessary to make that happen comes up for sale.
Committee chair Jason Henderson and member Carroll Cohee both pointed out that the rulings rendered Thursday weren't likely to change the traffic situation either way.
"Some issues of concern that were raised by the residents are law enforcement issues," Henderson said to reports of motorists speeding, littering and not obeying traffic stops and other signs.
"This committee doesn't have the authority to alleviate the traffic concerns," Henderson added.