Area Plan Commission unveils draft for Wabash and Tippecanoe Townships comprehensive plan
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission unveiled its current draft of the Wabash and Tippecanoe townships' comprehensive plan earlier this month, and residents shared their concerns over the proposed land use guide.
A portion of the comprehensive plan showcased a yet-to-be-developed road that might pass through both townships — if the local, state and federal governments decided to construct the Northern Corridor Extension within the next 20 years.
The Northern Corridor Extension proposes to connect U.S. 231 just west of West Lafayette near the Meijer store and travel northeast to Interstate 65. The project would be constructed over existing roads and with new roads through farm land in both townships.
This aspect of the comprehensive plan concerned many of the residents as they questioned if the county government might be taking their land to construct this extension.
Ryan O'Gara, assistant director of the Area Plan Commission, and Dave Byers, one of three Tippecanoe County commissioners, explained that residents had nothing to worry about in regard to the construction of the Northern Corridor Extension.
“All the road stuff is speculative," O'Gara said. "These aren’t active road projects. They are not funded. INDOT’s not interested. These are just speculative.
“But any future road project always has to begin somewhere, and so, it usually begins in plans like these where we just speculate these plans,” he said.
O’Gara emphasized that if the government decided that they wanted to invest in the Northern Corridor Extension within the next 20 years, then the Area Plan Commission would create a whole new process to tackle the development which would include the opinions of residents within the townships.
As of now, the Northern Corridor Extension is a blueprint.
“The state has no money approved, and there are no plans for that area as of now,” Byers said.
However, O’Gara did note that if the Northern Corridor Expansion might lead to a growth in industrial and residential development along the potential road connecting U.S. 231 to I-65.
Where to view the plan
The proposed land use plan is online at the Area Plan Commission's website, and it can be read by clicking here.
A second open house for public input into the land-use plan between 4 and 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at William Henry Harrison High School in the cafeteria. The school is located at 5701 N. 50 W. north of West Lafayette.
Public input is being accepted through January, according to the plan commission's website on the plan.
The actual plan
Because of the concern about the Northern Corridor Extension, many residents overlooked much of the land-use plan's proposed changes to the two townships.
Although much of the outer parts of the townships will still be zoned for primarily agricultural use, it’s the portions near West Lafayette that have seen much of the changes.
Traveling along the city’s borders, the Area Plan Commission indicates those portions of land should be zoned for residential use, primarily between low-density and medium-density residential. However, there are some portions zoned for neighborhood commercial, which the plan commission would be a good area to develop smaller-scale, neighborhood-oriented commercial, retail and services use.
Between the agricultural land and the residential areas, the land-use plan noted that there are areas deemed “agricultural transition," which would be land that could be used for agricultural uses but located near a residential area. In turn, these areas could have public water and sewage expand easily onto the property.
Perhaps the second largest portion of zoning found within both comprehensive plans, O’Gara noted that these plots of land would be ideal for expansion if the city or property owner decided to develop residential as the city continues to grow.
“These areas are prime for future development," O'Gara said, "and this is sort of the area that the tension between areas for future development versus areas that we kind of want to set aside for agriculture.
“It’s actually a very conservative plan when you look at these big chucks of lands for ag. And then these targeted (residential) areas and agricultural transition areas.
“We would support it if a property owner came in for a rezone ... to change his ag field to a residential category.”
O’Gara also noted that as West Lafayette continues to grow, the city might look into a future annexation of those areas.
“Although none of that is on the table right now," O'Gara said, "if you talk to (West Lafayette Mayor-elect) Erin (Easter) and company, they are not going to actively say they are pursuing it now, and they’re not. But in the future, who knows? The last annexation was around 10 years ago,” he said.
“We have a new administration coming in, new ideas, and who knows what the policies may be,” O'Gara said.
Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Area Plan Commission unveils draft comprehensive plan for townships
