Setting a bad precedent for the rest of Noblesville’s future

Let’s make this simple.

If our city’s Common Council members decide to approve this petition to rezone a residential area and flood plain so that industrial operations can occur next to hundreds of existing homes– and a historic park and covered bridge…

They will establish a policy precedent of allowing industrial operations next to any community, any neighborhood, and any home in the future.

Just because a company plans to donate used land to the Hamilton County Parks after they have profited from it should not give them the right to start new industrial operations in a residential zone.

Not only does this go against the Noblesville’s Comprehensive Plan, but it carries a few additional risks. First, excavating in a flood plain has shown negative impacts to downstream bridge infrastructure if the river bank ends up impacted (source). Second, there is risk to the county’s drinking water both during excavation and forever with the left-behind lake. The risk increases if it’s unmonitored as shown by the hydrogeologic assessment.

It’s plainly poor policy.

If this project is approved, folks considering relocating Noblesville will think twice about whether or not that’s a smart move for their families.