A proposal to bring nearly 900 acres of land north of Plymouth into city limits is moving forward, but the final decision is still to come.
The Plymouth Common Council voted 7-0 on Monday, November 9, to approve the fiscal plan for the proposed annexation involving Indiana Tool & Manufacturing Co. and IN50 Lilac Holdings LLC.
The council also held a public hearing and introduced the annexation ordinance for its first reading. A final vote is expected at the council’s next meeting.
The proposal covers approximately 897 acres north of Plymouth and includes plans to change some of the property’s zoning to industrial.
No specific development has been proposed for the property.
Residents Weigh In
The proposal drew considerable public discussion Monday evening, with residents raising questions about future development, farmland preservation, traffic, utilities and the potential impact on surrounding properties.
Several speakers urged the council to delay a decision until more information becomes available about how the property might eventually be used.
Others supported the proposal, pointing to opportunities for industrial development, business investment and new jobs.
The Plymouth Plan Commission previously voted 9-0 on November 4 to recommend approval of the proposed zoning changes.
What Would It Cost the City?
According to the annexation fiscal plan, the city projects an annual net cost of approximately $32,000 beginning in 2028.
Officials anticipate that additional property tax revenue would offset those costs beginning in 2029.
The figures are projections associated with the annexation, not the cost of a specific development.
City officials also clarified that annexation would not automatically require Plymouth to extend water and sewer infrastructure throughout the property. Future utility extensions would be considered separately.
What About Data Centers?
Questions about the possibility of a data center also came up during the public hearing.
City Attorney Jeff Houin explained that data centers are not currently listed as a permitted use under Plymouth’s zoning ordinance.
A proposed data center would require a use variance through the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, including a separate public hearing.
Officials emphasized that no data center or other specific development is currently proposed.
What’s Next?
The council’s approval of the fiscal plan does not mean the annexation has been finalized.
The annexation ordinance, which includes the proposed zoning changes, must still receive final council approval.
That vote is expected at the council’s next meeting, November 23.
Until then, the nearly 900-acre annexation remains a proposal.