Overview
- Council members voted unanimously after a packed meeting to pass measures that lay the groundwork for the Hobart Tech Park near 61st Avenue and Colorado Street.
- The actions followed more than an hour of public testimony with residents objecting over transparency and potential health, noise, traffic, water, and power impacts.
- The package outlined by officials includes a $47 million upfront community payment, $10 million at the first building permit, $45 million when the first walls rise, and developer funding for all infrastructure.
- Officials say the deal helps avoid raising local taxes and offsets revenue losses tied to Indiana’s Senate Enrolled Act 1, with additional staged payments projected in 2027 and 2028.
- Opponents, including plaintiffs in a pending lawsuit, are seeking detailed site plans and impact studies, while Amazon projects 1,100 long-term jobs and low water use; construction could begin this spring pending remaining approvals.