Crystal Welsh, of civil engineering firm Abonmarche, explains the findings of the 1300N study at a public meeting Wednesday, Oct. 30. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — A meeting was held in the Milford Community Building Wednesday, Oct. 30 for the public to hear findings of a study on the CR 1300N corridor, its features and potential future development of the land.

Presenting the findings was Crystal Welsh of the civil engineering firm Abonmarche, which worked on the study with a steering committee made of Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission members, county highway department officials and representatives of Milford and Syracuse, among others.

Kosciusko County finished a comprehensive planning process in 2022. The key issues identified by the process were the need for new housing, commercial and industrial development.

According to the CR 1300N study, “the study area is centered along CR 1300N, which is a major transportation corridor with access to rail lines. With the completion of the new overpass, the corridor will soon be linked to SR 15 over the Norfolk Southern and CSX Railway. This connection to the state highway will further enhance this corridor.”

The study was conducted before the new overpass was constructed.

When calculating the demand for new housing, the study predicted 40 jobs per year would come to the area over the next 20 years, a total of 800 jobs. Interviews with local employers showed 15-20% of workers live within five miles of their job. This would require 20 new housing units per year, or 100 units over the next five years.

With those factors and regular population growth taken into account, the study projects 37 housing units per year will be needed in the next five years for new residents.

Welsh mentioned types of housing, other than single-family homes, are also of importance to residents.

“We really do need to find some opportunities to find more affordable (housing). And then also, as seniors age out, not everybody wants a single-family detached (home) with a yard they have to maintain. Condominiums and apartments, especially for seniors, are becoming very popular,” she explained.

The development strategy includes a residential subdivision, with three to five units per acre, in Milford; and an urban neighborhood, with four to 15 units per acre, in Syracuse.

Welsh pointed out the suggested subdivision in Milford and added, “based on what we’re looking at, we think this would be a good residential use. It does not take the current property owner’s right to use that as farmland or anything else. It doesn’t say it’s being rezoned to residential. It’s gonna stay exactly the way it is until that property owner chooses to do something else with it.”

The CR 1300N study has no land acquisition plan attached to it. Welsh also mentioned property taxes would not be impacted by the study, unless land use actually changes.

Outside of housing, the largest areas of land use in the development strategy are agricultural and industrial.

“Based on the information we were working with, 800 to 1,000 acres seemed reasonable for additional industrial development. That could be anything from a small shop on a 25-acre parcel, to another large agribusiness that’s on a 200- or 300-acre parcel,” said Welsh.

At 51%, the majority of the land within the study area would remain agricultural. Additionally, the land within the study area allocated as parks and open space was not changed.

According to Welsh, development most likely occurs where utilities are. When conducting the study, the committee avoided suggesting development on dirt roads and in flood planes or wetlands.

The study itself stated development should be concentrated along CR 1300N, “and within the existing municipal boundaries to help preserve rural character.”

The only suggested commercial area is within the town of Syracuse, near the railroad tracks with along CR 1300N, with orientation toward workers in mind.

“So, it would be things like maybe a day care, or maybe an urgent care, or some restaurants. When we talked to business owners, specifically folks at Polywood, they said, ‘You know, it would be nice if there was something a little closer,’” Welsh said.

Welsh emphasized the study is not a definite course of action, but a suggestion. If the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission and the Area Plan Commission were to officially adopt the study, it would only be an endorsement of its ideas. The towns of Milford and Syracuse are also not required to adopt the plan.

Redevelopment President Joni Truex stated, “What we’re trying to do is just give a blueprint going forward. If you wanted to do something with your land, this would be a good idea; that’s all we’re saying.”

Matt Sandy, APC director, also said the study is a “living document” and that plans can change in the future.

The final presentation of the study will take place at the next Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.

The study and the presentation given at the meeting are available at kosciusko.in.gov/department/board.php?structureid=210 under “Related Pages.”

This graphic illustrates to different areas of development suggested by the CR 1300N study. The largest areas are agricultural and industrial, with different residential developments following closely behind. Photo provided by Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission.