Brownsburg council approves industrial zoning along Ronald Reagan Parkway, hears budget

Compiled by Gus Pearcy   

The Brownsburg Town Council met Oct. 14 for a regular meeting. All five members were present. The council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays each month at Brownsburg Town Hall, 61 N. Green St. Meetings are streamed live and archived at brownsburg.org. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28. 

What happened: The council approved a $70 million budget for 2022 covering the town and the fire territory on second reading.

What it means: The budget must be approved and submitted to the state by Nov. 1. The budget includes funding for town employees, firefighters, police and capital projects. Salaries and benefits makeup 36% of the budget, but contracted services take up most of the expenses at more than $29 million or 43% of the budget.

Co-interim town manager Al Geans told the council that the town has been putting off water department projects and rate increases for too many years. The capital projects include a sanitary sewer along County Road 700, a north east interceptor, downtown water main replacement and many other improvements.

There was discussion of the local income tax split for the fire territory and the town. Currently the split is 49% for the territory and 51% for the town, but the current budget proposal would make that split 55% for the town and 45% for the territory. With an increase in the assessed value of the townships and town, the fire department would avoid an decrease in funding, but it is unclear if that is certain.

The budget will be voted on one more time at the next meeting.

What happened: The council voted 4-1 to approve a rezoning of 68 acres at Ronald Reagan Parkway and County Road 400 N to I2, high-intensity industrial.

What it means: BLC Development is requesting the change for construction of an 564,000-square-foot building for an unnamed tenant slated to create 159 jobs with an average wage of $19.78 per hour.

Area neighbors spoke against the change because of property values and safety concerns. The developer stated it would limit the land to I1 uses except for the manufacturing of agricultural products, food processing and light manufacturing. No prospects have been identified.

Council member Chris Worley voted against the zoning as he did as a member of the plan commission.