The Land Use Planning Committee recommended sending Bill 49-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation after an Area Plan Commission review found the rezoning consistent with the county's future land-use map and development strategy.

Sean Klein, Area Plan director, explained the petition seeks to rezone five parcels on the south side of Fillmore Road between Larson and Snowberry Road from agricultural to I (industrial). The parcels sit inside the IEC overlay district, which would impose overlay development standards and prohibit certain heavy industrial uses.

Terry O'Brien, economic development specialist, said the county and redevelopment commission acquired adjacent parcels in 2023 and that the first planned development on the rezoned land is a NIPSCO facility at the southwest corner. He said a supplier village road and roundabout are planned to serve the site and future users. O'Brien said the landowners — including the county, the redevelopment commission and three private owners — support making the parcels available for industrial-support uses such as a supplier park for the nearby GM site.

Area Plan staff noted utilities and street infrastructure are planned or will be provided and that three members of the public objected at the APC hearing citing loss of farmland. The APC concluded the rezoning was consistent with the area’s business, technology and research future land-use designation and forwarded it 7–1. The Land Use Planning Committee voted to send the bill favorably to the full council.