FORTVILLE — Developers of a proposed $2.5 million retail building and storage facility received the green light this week to begin construction in Fortville.
The Fortville Town Council approved a request to rezone property in the 700 block of Garden Street. Matt Dixon, president of The Dixon Construction Group, plans to build an estimated 18,000-square-foot storage facility and retail building at 710 W. Garden St.
Preliminary numbers show the facility would pay about $99,000 in taxes to the community each year, according to attorney and county councilman Randy Sorrell, who represented Dixon at the meeting.
Because the proposed site, which is currently undeveloped, is in a residential area, there were some concerns about lighting used on the 8.2-acre property and how it might affect neighbors.
Officials also expressed concerns about whether there was sufficient room on the surrounding streets to accommodate truck traffic.
On Monday, officials approved the rezoning on condition of several commitments from Dixon:
Structures must be similar to those pictured in drawings submitted
No back-lit roadside signage will be featured on the site or on the façade facing Garden Street
Hooded lighting fixtures will be installed to minimize light pollution.
Dixon said he met with neighbors to talk about concerns they had for the project, and most cited bright lighting as the biggest issue.
He said the construction group is excited to start work on the facility. He expects to break ground in spring and open in mid-May if weather permits.
The retail side of the facility would house three to five tenants or more, and Dixon plans to target contractors, small tool-and-die shops and print shops as possible tenants, saying these are the types of businesses that value a small front office while also having a large storage or work area in the back.
The other part of the proposed development consists of a 406-unit self-storage facility. The proposed 31 units could store recreational vehicles or boats and would cover 68,000 square feet. Some of the units would be climate-controlled.
Town council members expressed concerns about whether a turn lane or accelerate/decelerate lanes needed to be added to Garden Street for the facility’s entrance, but Dixon said his plans will meet town standards for the area.
Police Chief Bill Knauer, who lives in the neighborhood, told the council his neighbors seem satisfied with what Dixon has agreed to do.
“I think he’ll be a good neighbor. He’s been very easy to work with and to communicate with, and I think everybody will be in favor of the project,” Knauer said.
