Developers looking to build warehouses in Whiteland may have several new standards to meet soon as the town works to update its outdated zoning code.
The Whiteland Plan Commission this week sent the proposed changes to the Whiteland Town Council with a favorable recommendation. The standards could be approved by the town council as early as next week, but the agenda for the board’s Dec. 8 meeting is not yet set.
The code needs to be updated due to outdated descriptions of the industrial (I-1) and light industrial (L-1) zoning categories that are no longer applicable to the town’s vision for growth, said Norm Gabehart, town manager.
The code creates more work for developers and the town, which add and review commitments routinely regarding land use and increased landscaping or buffer zones, in an effort to make industrial properties more attractive to surrounding neighbors, he said.
Adding those commitments to the code would streamline the process for developers and give the town and unincorporated Johnson County residents peace of mind knowing higher standards are in place, Gabehart said.
The current code lists 17 permitted uses for industrial properties, but the new version removes all of those uses and adds seven that reflect the town’s vision for industrial growth at Interstate 65.
Uses in the proposed revised code include light industrial assembly and production, warehouse or distribution facilities, wholesale facilities, conference centers, data processing or call centers, offices and government facilities.
The new code would prohibit 17 types of industrial uses that involve processing or creating products that could pollute the environment. Examples of these include gas, glue and alcohol manufacturing and smelting ore.
The new code would also add protections for homeowners, which would require industrial developers to add 25 feet to the standard buffer when the project is next to a residential property. Specific standards are outlined that would require developers to plant trees, build an opaque fence or an undulating mound to mitigate the impact to nearby properties.
Light industrial uses would be whittled down to five from eight and would include flex space, electronic parts fabrication, tool and die making, light manufacturing and machine shops. Flex space is industrial space that can be configured for offices, manufacturing, assembly or warehousing.
If the council approves it, the definitions of industrial and light industrial would be replaced in all town documents.
Town officials also examined other parts of the zoning code but determined commercial and residential standards are adequate at this time, Gabehart said.
