When my mom, Susan Grove who lives on West Lancaster Street, said that Almco Steel was seeking to rezone nearly 40 acres of farmland behind her home from Agricultural-Residential to a Heavy Industrial Zone, I assumed she was mistaken. In 2024, no prudent Area Plan Commission approves heavy industrial zones in residential neighborhoods. Although I now reside in Virginia, I look after my mother’s affairs and check in on her daily.
Bluffton currently has available areas zoned for heavy industry. These areas need to be used. The 203 residents who signed the petition against this requested zone change ask Almco Steel and the City of Bluffton to exercise visionary leadership. Almco Steel can expand their operations at one of those satellite locations while keeping their corporate office intact. Numerous companies forge ahead through an expansive network of company buildings situated at various geographic locations. It could be a win for Almco Steel and a win for our neighborhood. We want to safeguard our children, families, elderly residents, and property values.
Being a good corporate neighbor should compel Almco Steel to take their pounding presses, industrial blight, noise pollution, storm water run-off and semi-traffic to the already established heavy industry locations in Wells County. They can harness growth in those designated areas. Indiana law requires that zone variance changes pay reasonable regard to the current conditions of an area, protect against plummeting property values, and be reasonable in its growth and development. Voting for this would put Bluffton at odds with what Indiana law requires.
We need Area Plan Commission members who vote against sandwiching our neighborhood into Almco Steel’s industrial expansion. We need elected officials and those they appoint to these boards to safeguard neighborhoods west of the railroad tracks to the same degree that is done in other parts of the town.
JUDY STEURY
Alexandria, Va.
