Redevelopment commission reviews draft 1300 Corridor plan, schedules public engagement and forwards draft for county review

Crystal Walsh presented a draft land-use study for the 1300 Corridor — the area centered on 1300 North between the towns of Syracuse and Milford — telling the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission the document is draft and aimed at sparking local feedback.

Walsh said the study relied on steering-committee input and map-based analysis to correct for limits in published datasets for a small study area. She described two principal recommendations: encourage residential growth where sewer and water are available (with a planning-scale target of roughly 500 housing units over the next five to 10 years) and identify roughly 1,000 acres as candidate industrial land, subject to environmental constraints and property-owner decisions.

Walsh noted the study is illustrative, not regulatory: ‘‘This is a land‑use map, not a property‑acquisition or rezoning plan,’’ she said, and emphasized that property owners retain existing rights until they choose to pursue rezoning or sale.

She also summarized infrastructure and market considerations that informed the recommendations: sewer availability in Milford and Syracuse, possible street upgrades to support heavier truck traffic, spotty broadband that may need upgrades for high‑end users, and rail access opportunities through CSX’s site‑selection program.

The steering committee recommended public outreach, and Walsh proposed a one‑hour public open house in October and returning to the RDC in November for potential adoption after receiving public comment. She suggested posting the draft on the RDC website and accepting emailed feedback in advance of the public meeting.

Commission discussion focused on adoption pathways. Walsh explained three options: adopt the study as an RDC document; incorporate it into affected TIF plans (which would make projects identified in the study TIF‑eligible); or seek an amendment to the county comprehensive plan through the plan commission (the latter would require additional hearings and meetings). She said any decision to incorporate the study into TIF plans or the comprehensive plan would require coordination with the towns and plan commission.

The commission voted to request staff to forward the draft to the county commissioners, the area plan commission, and the Kosciusko County Council for their input on whether they prefer a public presentation and how they wish to proceed. The chair said the forwarding step is intended to solicit intergovernmental feedback before any formal adoption vote.

The commission also heard public comments reiterating that the study is a planning tool, not an immediate change in property rights, and encouraged clear public messaging ahead of any outreach event.

The RDC plans a public meeting in October (the steering committee suggested Oct. 14) and expects to revisit the draft at its regular November meeting.