A large cornfield just north of Milford is a step closer to being transformed into a multi-million dollar agricultural facility. During its regular monthly meeting Wednesday in Warsaw, Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval to rezone a tract of ground from agricultural to I-3, the heaviest industrial use allowed by county ordinance.

The property is south of CR 1400 North, east of Old SR 15 and west of CR 100 East in Van Buren Township. TruPointe Cooperative Inc., based in Ohio, is seeking the rezoning in order to build a state-of-the-art agricultural facility.

But before approval was recommended, several questions were asked by APC members, as well as some living near the site of the plant who are not in support of the project.

Mike Jackson of TruPointe told the APC the initial plan involves a fertilizer business and then eventually grain will be included. “We will be buying and selling to and from farmers,” he said.

Chuck Haffner, APC chairman, asked if any buffers are planned for the property. Tom Butler of Adams Building Contractors, the construction management firm planning the site, said there will be an 18-foot to 20-foot high “greenbelt area” with vegetation and trees on the north and east sides of the property. “Very little of the plant will be visible from the road,” he commented.

There will be a large staging area on the site to allow trucks to get in and out as quickly as possible. The east side of the property will have a large setback from the road, as well.

Haffner asked what kind of smoke or odors could be generated. The response was none, other than when the grain drier is running that will have the smell of roasting corn, termed a “good smell.”

In addition, there will be a storage facility holding up to 150,000 gallons of anhydrous with fencing around it, as well as dust collection facilities in both the shipping and receiving areas of the plant.

Lee Harman of the APC asked how much of a job impact the plant could have. Jackson noted 75 people “favorably compensated” would be hired during a span of two years. He added from the starting point when the fertilizer operation is built until the grain elevator is added it will take two full years to complete construction.

Those speaking in support of the plant included Dan Brown of the Milford Redevelopment Commission, Doug Ruch of Milford Town Council and George Robertson of Kosciusko County Economic Development.

Brown said TruPointe is a high quality company and the infrastructure improvements will also benefit the town of Milford. Robertson noted the company has a positive reputation in its industry.

Those remonstrating against the plant included Bob Bowerman, grain purchaser for Maple Leaf Farms on CR 1300N. He questioned how the traffic patterns will be affected now that portions of some of the roads are vacated. He said Maple Leaf has trucks purposely routed from U.S. 6 to Old SR 15 and then south to CR 1300 North “in order to keep the trucks out of town.”

He said it is imperative to have 1300 North extended west to SR 15 as soon as possible “so we (Maple Leaf) can have equal economic footing and stay at a competitive level.”

Bowerman also asked if the county will compensate residents of CR 100 East in any way due to the increased truck traffic. He also noted the railroad lines will not be as likely to work with any company needing their services that may locate on the property to the south of the railroad tracks that is already zoned I-3. “Has Milford shot itself in the foot?” he asked.

He asked for a delay of 60 days so more discussion could be generated.

Tina Fraley lives near the plant site and said the APC meeting was her first chance to speak publicly. “This is a surprise and it has been held very quiet,” she noted. She said though the Milford Town Council is in support of the project “the town has not asked for any public input.”

Fraley said she believes the project is “money driven” because the county does need money. But she noted residents along CR 100 East will not be compensated for increased rail usage, truck traffic and noise pollution. “Our property values will go down,” she added.

Haffner said people need to be aware when they move into agricultural areas that “they can’t expect the same protections as in residential areas.”

Other remonstrators expressed concerns about the lack of any public notice given, saying they were aware something might locate on the property but nothing more specific until just a few days before the APC meeting.

Harman said he sensed the public was not well informed of TruPointe’s intentions. In response, Robertson said the project has received considerable press coverage. Dan Richard, area planning director, said several notices were sent out to nearby residents of the intent to vacate the roads. “I don’t think it is fair to say this was just sprung on people,” he said.

Harman asked Jackson to address the concerns of remonstrators. Jackson cited the buffer zones being created as a sign the company wants to work with the community. “We want to be a good neighbor; we don’t want to make life too unpleasant for people,” he said.

Jackson said TruPointe volunteered, without being asked, to “put forth a bond to enable road improvements,” including a wider road for CR 100 East. He said there will be three entrances to the plant off 100 East, with one being as close to 1400 North as possible “so trucks can exit back onto 1400 in either direction.”

He noted the rail loop will usually not be active in the middle of the night because railway lines typically prefer a daytime schedule. He also added the company chose to locate in Indiana even though the economic tax incentives given by the state were taken away from TruPointe due to a negative letter writing campaign. “We are trying to get those incentives back,” he said.

Jackson said TruPointe is a cooperative owned by members of the co-op. He promised the company will work with the community as much as possible. Harman said his vote to recommend approval was based on knowing the company will follow through on its promise.

County commissioners are the final authority and will consider the rezoning at a special meeting Dec. 11.

In other business, the APC voted to approve a preliminary plat for the second phase of the Candlewood Estates subdivision on CR 375S in Wayne Township. Original plat approval was given in 2005 and three extensions have been approved with the most recent being a year ago. The lots have not sold due to a poor economy.

But since plat approval was given one tract of ground was sold and an unfinished road was left dangling in the subdivision. Richard said it negated the original plat design and the petitioner, Terry Shepherd, was asked to provide a new design for phase two, which he did. It now shows how the rest of the plat will be developed.

Several people living in the subdivision, though, have complained because there are holes in the existing roads and drains causing safety issues that have not been addressed. Approval was given for the preliminary plat of phase two with the conditions no new building permits are issued until a surety is on file guaranteeing payment of the road work and also the holes are at least temporarily fixed for the winter months.

A temporary cul-de-sac will also be needed.