The Starke County Commissioners reviewed the Starke County Plan Commission’s favorable recommendation on the rezoning of several parcels pertaining to an upcoming solar project.
In a previous report, it was erroneously aired and published on our website that parcels closer to Bass Lake were passed by the Starke County Plan Commission, but that was not the case. We apologize for the error and confusion toward the issue.
It was clarified during the commissioners meeting Monday night that the parcels that received approval by the Starke County Plan Commission members were west of U.S. 35 in the Bass Lake area known as the Rentka Addition from R2 to Agriculture, and to the south and west of Bass Lake along U.S. 35 known as the Redlin Addition from Local Business to Agriculture.
The commissioners took comments from residents who did not support the project for aesthetic purposes, and they sought justification of the purpose of installing solar panels in this area, the effect the project has on property values, tax impact, and fire concerns. Comments were also made about establishing certain limitations when it comes to building solar projects in Starke County.
After taking comments for about an hour, the commissioners approved the rezoning of 14 acres of the Rentka addition at 6535 S. 450 E. in Knox. Commissioner Mark Gourley made a motion to approve the recommended Redlin Addition, but Commission President Charles Chesak did not provide a second to the motion so the motion died for a lack of a second. Commissioner Bryan Cavender was not in attendance. Gourley then made a motion to table the consideration of the Redlin Addition to the October 18 meeting and that was met with a second by Chesak and approved.
The commissioners have 90 days from the Plan Commission’s approval of the recommended parcels on September 13 to provide a formal decision on the matter of the Redlin Addition. If there is no decision, it automatically passes following the 90-day period.
