The Starke County Commissioners finalized paperwork concerning the rezoning of the Swanson property at Bass Lake from residential to agriculture to make way for the future installation of solar panels on that property.
That was just one of several requests made on behalf of Starke Solar, LLC to rezone properties owned by the Bope, Kolish, Welker, and Swanson families for future solar projects.
The Starke County Planning Commission members approved a recommendation to rezone the Bope and Kolish properties from light business to agricultural after a public hearing, but they did not recommend the Welker and Swanson properties. After some adjustments were made, specifically the proposed proximity of solar panels to Bass Lake, the commissioners approved the Welker property for rezoning. The Swanson property, however, was the only property left from the packet of requests because some of the parcel paperwork did not match with documents. That problem was remedied by Chris Shelmon, an attorney for the project, and it was reviewed by County Attorney Marty Lucas. The paperwork was deemed satisfactory by Lucas so the commissioners were able to unanimously approve that last piece Tuesday night.
