Council says no to site for concrete plant on U.S. 20 for New Carlisle development

Joseph Dits, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
This map shows plans Kuert Concrete has proposed for a concrete mixing plant, using a portion of a farm field on U.S. 20 near New Carlisle. Here, you see Tulip Road to the east and Smilax Road to the west.
This map shows plans Kuert Concrete has proposed for a concrete mixing plant, using a portion of a farm field on U.S. 20 near New Carlisle. Here, you see Tulip Road to the east and Smilax Road to the west.

A temporary concrete mixing plant to feed major development near New Carlisle seems be on the move, even before it could establish itself.

Kuert Concrete removed its request for a special use variance from St. Joseph County, which would have allowed it to set up the concrete plant in a farm field on U.S. 20 just west of Tulip Road.

Neighbors had expressed concerns about traffic safety with cement trucks pulling out into the two-lane road, as The Tribune has reported. Some have worried about cement dust and water issues, too.

April 2, 2024: Proposed cement plant on U.S. 20 near New Carlisle draws concerns over traffic safety

The cement plant would have used 10 acres of an 88-acre farm field.

Now Kuert plans to resubmit a similar request, perhaps for another location, President Mark Root said at the start of the St. Joseph County Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

But that wasn’t the end of it. It didn’t put Dan Caruso of New Carlisle at ease. Speaking to the council on Tuesday, he worried that Kuert would automatically get the special use variance if the council didn’t act on it by mid-April. He suggested — and questioned whether — it could still revert to the 4-2 decision in favor of the variance by the Area Board of Zoning Appeals on Feb. 14.

Council member Joe Thomas, who represents the district near New Carlisle, acknowledged that residents still have a lot of “angst” over allowing the U.S. 20 site for a concrete mixing plant.

The council’s attorney, Jamie O’Brien, who’d previously served on the council, suggested that, when Kuert pulled the request, that pretty much “killed” the variance. But, to offer assurance, he suggested the council bring the variance back on the table and then vote it down.

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That led to more discussion over whether such a step was even necessary.

But the council did vote to bring the variance back on the table.

The council then voted 7-1-1 to deny the variance. Mark Catanzarite, who’d questioned whether taking the vote was procedurally correct, voted against it. Diana Hess abstained.

South Bend Tribune reporter Joseph Dits can be reached at 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County Council votes no to concrete plant site for Kuert