The Westfield City Council approved the rezoning request to transform an industrial area to a commercial one for retail and hospitality.
The former Hall and House Lumber Company property is approximately 25.64 acres at the southwest corner of U.S. 31 and 181st Street. The area is currently zoned Enclosed Industrial and consists of various light industrial and office uses and developers sought a zoning change to General Business.
The property plans to be subdivided into five parcels for future redevelopment. As part of the agreement the ordinance establishes a timeline for certain improvements to occur. The phasing plan would result in some immediate aesthetic and screening improvements to enhance the street-view of the property, while allowing existing uses the opportunity to remain on the site up to 10 more years as the area likely redevelops to commercial/retail and hospitality uses. A trucking company and several other tenants will use the existing buildings prior to redevelopment.
Anticipated land uses for the area include hotels, restaurants, retail uses and other supporting commercial uses (among additional professional and residential uses).
What happened: Vacation of public right-of-way
What it means: The area, on the northeast corner of Ind. 32 and Wheeler Road, is 0.17 acres or approximately 25 feet. The city is looking to vacate the land within the Ind. 32 at U.S. 31 Henke Center Plat. City Planner Andrew Murray said the public works department is in the design phase of Wheeler Road and the portion being vacated will not benefit the city.
What’s next? The work on the Henke Center Plat includes the open Taco Bell and plans for a McDonald’s and Dairy Queen.
What happened: 100 percent voluntary annexation
What it means: The annexation area, generally adjacent to the existing corporate limits, north of 159th Street and west of Little Eagle Creek Avenue is being 100 percent voluntary annexed by the Gibson family. Once approved, the area will be assigned to City Council District 4.
What’s next? The ordinance will be voted on at the Feb. 10 meeting.
