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Thursday, November 17, 2005

Ind. Law - Final word, for now, on Crown Point's big box ordinance

Updating yesterday's ILB entry, today the Munster (NW Indiana) Times and the Gary Post Tribune both report that last eveneing the Crown Point city council adopted the big box ordinance adopted by the plan commission earlier this week. From the Times:

CROWN POINT | The City Council presented a united front in the fight against big-box stores Wednesday, approving an ordinance that makes it more difficult for the retailers to come to the city.

"People have taken it upon themselves to write 'No Wal-Mart' and put it on their houses or in their yards," said Councilman Bill Condron, R-4th. "I think we're acting in the best interest of this community."

The ordinance, which the council passed 7-0, forces developers wanting to build retail stores 75,000 square feet and over in a business district to go to the Board of Zoning Appeals and City Council for a special use permit. The group suspended the rules to pass the ordinance in one night.

In the immediate future it threatens a Lauth Property Group proposal to build two anchor stores at the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. 231, one 203,000 square feet and another 88,400 square feet. One of the stores could be a Wal-Mart.

From the Post Tribune:
And while the City Council may have won the first battle, it’s expecting a long fight.

In a special meeting Wednesday night, the council suspended the rules and passed an ordinance in first and second readings that would require special use zoning for any retail building over 75,000 square feet.

The ordinance was drafted in response to Lauth Development Group’s plans to build a shopping center at Interstate 65 and U.S. 231 that would be anchored by Wal-Mart.

The Plan Commission has been deferring a vote on Lauth’s site plan approval since August pending the approval of design standards for the I-65 corridor.

Armed with the new zoning ordinance, the Plan Commission is expected to not approve Lauth’s site plans at its meeting next month.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 17, 2005 07:42 AM
Posted to Indiana Law