AUBURN — The DeKalb County Plan Commission Wednesday endorsed plans by Steel Dynamics Inc. to rezone 289 acres for future development.
SDI wants to rezone land immediately north of its steel mill and west of New Millennium Building Systems from a rural suburban designation to open industrial. The site is bordered by C.R. 55 on the west, C.R. 40 on the north, a vacated portion of C.R. 59 on the east and a vacated stretch of C.R. 42 on the south
The Plan Commission’s favorable recommendation will be forwarded to the DeKalb County Commissioners, who will consider the rezoning Monday at 9 a.m.
While no specific plans are in place for the land, it is possible that Indiana Nugget — a consortium of two or three different industries — could locate a production facility at the site, said Will Hawley, representing SDI.
“It’s not a given,” Hawley added. “It will be used for something. We’ve got 289 acres that we will use for something ... We’re rezoning it to use for whatever comes.”
Earlier this year, Keith Busse, chief executive officer of SDI, said his company has developed a way to make iron in an environmentally friendly way, without the use of coke. That iron-making technology will be used in a new plant north of the Butler SDI mill, he said.
Busse described the technology as “one of the good things that has come out of our Iron Dynamics venture” in Whitley County.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Judy Schiffli of C.R. 40 asked why SDI was not using the nearby C.R. 61 industrial corridor for future development. She questioned the effect of future development on the resale value of her home.
Hawley said the land has rail access and rezoning of the area was discussed 11 years ago when SDI first came to DeKalb County.
Hawley said SDI is caring and responsive to its neighbors and will build buffering mounds as it has done in other areas surrounding its plant. He said SDI has helped neighbors whose property values have depreciated and will continue to work with neighbors.
DeKalb County zoning administrator Sally Rowe also recommended rezoning the property, but noted that in the planning process, it is unusual to “go out on a limb” and rezone such a large area when no specific plans are in place.
Rowe said she also would like to see development take place up the C.R. 61 industrial corridor and suggested it would be wise to set development limits to the west of C.R. 61.
Even if the rezoning is approved, specific projects must be approved at the development plan stage.
