Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

An opportunity to be thoughtful, deliberate, and responsible about what we allow in our community before this industry takes root. Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace. And what should get all of our attention is that some of the very leaders driving this technology are now raising concerns about how quickly AI is advancing and whether safety measures are keeping pace. And that matters because the infrastructure required to power this technology is enormous. Data centers can place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and other critical infrastructure. And here in Gary, we have just seen firsthand how important reliable infrastructure is to the daily lives of our residents and our businesses. Before we commit significant amounts of our electricity, water, land, and infrastructure capacity to an industry that is constantly evolving and evolving this quickly, we need to understand the full impact. That is why I'm taking action now. During this moratorium, the City will carefully examine the impact of data centers on our electric grid, our water resources, infrastructure, environment, economic development, and the quality of life of our residents. We will also examine the rapidly changing demands created by artificial intelligence and determine what standards and safeguards should be in place before any future development moves forward. And I believe this conversation must extend beyond Gary. It is my hope that the federal government establish thoughtful guardrails around the continued advancements of AI. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to transform the economy and improve our lives. But when technology is advancing at this speed, we have a responsibility to make sure innovation is accompanied by accountability, safety, and common sense. Local governments should not be forced to make long-term infrastructure decisions in isolation while our nation is still working to understand the implications of rapidly advancing AI. Gary can embrace innovation while demanding responsibility. We can welcome investment and protect our infrastructure. We can pursue economic growth and protect our residents. We can prepare for the future without blindly rushing into it. This is what responsible leadership looks like. This moratorium is not about closing Gary's doors. It is about making sure that if we open the doors, we know exactly what we're welcoming in. We will continue pursuing jobs, continuing pursuing investments, innovation, and opportunity, but every decision must answer one fundamental question. does it make the people in the city of Gary stronger? That is the standard. And that is the responsibility I have to the people of Gary. So again, thank you and God bless the city of Gary.

Did you know, pouring grease down your kitchen sink may seem harmless, but once it cools, it hardens inside your pipes. Over time, that buildup can cause clogged drains, sewer backups, costly plumbing repairs, and even pollution in our rivers and lakes. The good news, preventing it is easy. First, let grease cool and scrape any leftover food and grease from your pots and pans. Next, pour the cooled grease into a sealed container, such as an empty can or jar with a lid. Once the container is full and the grease has completely hardened, simply throw it away with your regular household trash. And remember, never pour grease down the sink or use your garbage disposal to get rid of it. Small actions make a big difference. By doing your part, you're helping protect your home, our sewer system, and our environment. Together with the Gary Sanitary District, we can help keep Gary cleaner, from the sewer to the streets.

The City of Gary is making it easier than ever to stay informed when it matters most. With Smart 911, residents can receive important City of Gary notifications and emergency alerts directly on their phones. From severe weather and road closures to water main breaks, special events, and other important community updates, Smart 911 helps keep you connected with the information you need. Signing up is quick, easy, and free. Download the Smart 911 app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or sign up online at smart911.com. When emergencies happen, every second counts, and having the right information can make all the difference. Don't wait until the next emergency to get connected. Stay ready. Stay connected. Stay informed. Sign up for Smart 911 today and receive important alerts from the City of Gary directly to your phone.

Was there a problem with your pickup today? If you found one of these oops tags attached to your trash, we're here to help. This tag explains why our collection crew couldn't safely complete your pickup and what you can do before your next collection day. It may have been that your bin wasn't accessible, didn't have enough clearance, the lid couldn't close completely. The good news is that most of these issues are quick and easy to correct. Simply review the information on the tag, make any needed adjustments, and place your bin out properly for your next scheduled pickup. These reminders help us provide safer, more efficient, and more reliable collection service throughout our community. Thank you for doing your part to help keep Gary clean, safe, and beautiful. For more information, visit GarySanitary.gov or report an issue at Gary.gov slash 311.

Greetings to my fellow Gary residents. Today, I am announcing that I've signed an executive order establishing a one year moratorium on new data center developments in the city of Gary. Let me be clear, Gary is not against technology. We are not against innovation and we are not against economic development. In fact, Gary currently has no data centers operating within our city. And I believe that gives us an important opportunity An opportunity to be thoughtful, deliberate, and responsible about what we allow in our community before this industry takes root. Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace. And what should get all of our attention is that some of the very leaders driving this technology are now raising concerns about how quickly AI is advancing and whether safety measures are keeping pace. And that matters. because the infrastructure required to power this technology is enormous. Data centers can place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and other critical infrastructure. And here in Gary, we have just seen firsthand how important reliable infrastructure is to the daily lives of our residents and our businesses. Before we commit significant amounts of our electricity, water, land, and infrastructure capacity to an industry that is constantly evolving and evolving this quickly, we need to understand the full impact. That is why I'm taking action now. During this moratorium, the city will carefully examine the impact of data centers on electric grid, on water resources, infrastructure, environment, economic development, and the quality of life of our residents. We will also examine the rapidly changing demands created by artificial intelligence and determine what standards and safeguards should be in place before any future development moves forward. And I believe this conversation must extend beyond Gary. It is my hope that the federal government establish thoughtful guardrails around the continued advancements of AI. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to transform the economy and improve our lives. But when technology is advancing at this speed, we have a responsibility to make sure innovation is accompanied by accountability, safety, and common sense. Local governments should not be forced to make long-term infrastructure decisions in isolation while our nation is still working to understand the implications of rapidly advancing AI. Gary can embrace innovation while demanding responsibility. We can welcome investment and protect our infrastructure. We can pursue economic growth and protect our residents. We can prepare for the future without blindly rushing into it. This is what responsible leadership looks like. This moratorium is not about closing Gary's doors. It is about making sure that if we open the doors, we know exactly what we're welcoming in. We will continue pursuing jobs, continuing pursuing investments, innovation, and opportunity.

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Gary Plant Commission September meeting, September 17th. It's 336. We're going to call this meeting to order. First item on our, is to, I would like to approve the, actually, we'll do the roll call. So, Marco, can we do roll call, please?

All right. Jeremiah King. Adam Hall.

Here.

Bill Cook. Present. Willie Miller. Allen Harrell.

Present.

Darren Washington. Sherman Wilson. William Allen. Present. Tom Serrell.

Present.

We'll show with five members present, we have a quorum to conduct this.

All right. The next item is the approval of the formal meeting minutes from previous meetings. There's been challenges with staff, so we are going to postpone that to our next meeting. All right. So we don't have to worry about that on our agenda today. So we'll get straight to our public hearings. And the first one on the agenda is PC 2026-06, which is a vacation request at about 100 West 20th Place. And the petitioner is Broadwater Area CDC. So I would like to turn that over to staff for an introduction, please.

Sure. Good afternoon, commissioners. Our petitions today are both presented by the Broadway area CDC. And they are in the general area of 20th Place and Washington, so midtown west of Broadway. The first petition that you have on the agenda is a petition to vacate. And I'll let the petitioner explain why They're requesting first to vacate, and then the next petition that you have is to request, which is to create additional lots as a result of potentially a favorable vacation. So we have a couple challenges with this vacation. One of them specifically is we have some encroachments on the right-of-way. The city will be working with that private property owner to remove any of their encroachments in the public right of way prior to the implementation of this vacation. With that, I'd like to invite the petitioner up if you're okay with that, Mr. President.

Absolutely, I'm ready. Commissioners, do you want to see the encroachments? They sent them electronically. Did you need to see it? Thank you, sir. I can see a fence.

It's a little easier to see when it's blown up like that.

Please.

Good afternoon, thank you. I am Chris Diazma with Pearl Island Marsh. We're at 111 East 3rd Street over in Indiana. I'm the project manager for said project. I have with me Portia from the Broadway Development Corp. running east of Adams Street to the west line of Washington Street. It's a platted right-of-way. There are no improvements of the roadway in said right-of-way. It's approximately 287 feet long on the north line and 272 feet long on the south side. We have prepared a In tonight's actions, we are asking for a recommendation for the location to be adopted by ordinance and sent to the Board of Public Works.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good.

Before we move on to questions, just a second while I continue my review. The petitioner did complete all of their public notice requirements. We did not receive any written public comments prior to the meeting. And as a part of the vacation, it requires a couple extra steps, which is utility sign-offs. And they did provide those as a part of their application packet. With all of that said, the staff is recommending a favorable recommendation to Board of Works and City Council for their consideration. I'll turn it over to you.

Okay, thank you. Fellow commissioners, do you have any questions for the petitioner?

None here.

Okay, very none. Seeing none. Okay, I'm going to open it up for public comment. Is there anyone here that would like to speak for or against 2026-06? If so, please sign in and you get two minutes each. and you can go up to the podium and speak from there. Please state your name and address when you get up there. Good afternoon.

Wendy Batey, 216 West 20th Place, Gary, Indiana. I am here because I received a notice in the mail and I really want to know what is being done. I kind of heard something about a road going through there. I would like more information about that. What's the purpose of creating that roadway through that particular area? I live right there. year where you all are proposing that roadway, so I would just like an explanation as to what's happening.

Okay, thank you. Appreciate your comments and I believe you'll learn more if you stick with this meeting. That'll be the next item on the agenda is what is proposed.

You said next month?

Nope, next item on our agenda. I'd just like to make a note that Councilman Washington has joined us here today. Thank you, Councilman. Yes, sir. Name and address, please. Two minutes.

My name is Johnny Mayers, 27A Washington Street, Erie, Indiana, 46407. I also received a notice and a diagram of And going by the diagram that you have that was sent to me, I don't see any of my properties in the location of where it was stopped, such road coming through. So I'm a little confused on where I received the notice and Doesn't really make sense here.

Okay. We're not gonna really answer questions, but I will repeat that if you stick around, the next item on the agenda is gonna explain in more detail the proposed development by the petitioner. So you'll see more details. It's not really a road, it's the vacation of the road and a development that's proposed. So if you stick around, you'll be able to see that. Do you want to address it? Okay. Staff has agreed to address that. Go ahead.

So you all received a letter because you're a neighbor of this property. and when you're a neighbor by code we measure how how far away you are from a certain request so that we know how many neighbors to notify so you've got all about letters because you live within close proximity 100 feet of where this right away is when a city or a developer plans a subdivision They lay out right of ways, and those right of ways have roads in that a lot of times. And so the roads that you drive on today, Adams Street, West 20th Place, like ma'am, you're on 216 West 20th Place. There is an existing road there. The red box that you saw on your letter, that is where the developer initially planned to put a road, and so they designated that as a public road. They no longer want to build that road, and so they're saying, we want to make that land available to put a house next to there, which is the next petition. So that is the reason why you got the notice, and so this public space and converting it back into a public, a private land that is developable for, to meet against our development codes.

Thank you. All right, is there anybody else that would like to speak for or against 2026-06? Okay, hearing none, seeing none, the public portion, public comment portion is now over. Is there a hand? Did you want to?

Can I ask for clarification?

If you go to the podium.

Okay.

So, with all you're getting, get understanding. So, there is no proposal for a road. Is that what I encourage you to say? Correct. Okay. So there's going to be development of a new home. Got it. Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome. I have a question. All right. Okay. After that, I'm going to call the public comment portion now closed. Questions from Commissioners before we move?

Yeah, I'm just slightly confused, I think. So, the entire road of 20th Place between Washington and Adams is going to be vacated? Yes. The entirety of it?

Yes, the right of way. There is no road today.

Oh, there is no road? There is no road. You can see, that's the satellite.

Oh, okay.

That's in your packet a couple pages back where you can see... Look at the satellite.

There's nothing there.

Yeah, okay. So the petitioner will... I guess, take ownership of that half of the road that's being vacated. Yeah. And what happens with the other half?

They go to the adjacent one. Okay.

And have they been notified that they're getting land?

Yep. All of that has been...

Okay. Well, I didn't see anything that said these two other lots are going to be receiving the right-of-way land.

Maybe Commissioner Allen is a part of our...

That's fine.

In the land description, you can see that it is vacated.

No, I can see it. I'm just wondering, do those two property owners know that they're going to be getting this land?

Some extra property.

I don't think that, yeah. I don't think any of the people who were speaking are those two property owners.

The property owner with the fence.

They were all notified, yes.

Is that the gentleman who's standing back there? No.

No, no. Okay. No, I know they were notified. I'm just, they were notified about this action, but they would then have to, in their mind, say, oh, we're getting the other half of that roadway attached to our land. Right, because that isn't specified in here. Right. Okay. That's all I was wondering. Okay.

I understand. Well, the public portion, comment portion is closed.

I'm sorry, I am lost. But we could.

Should I reopen or no? I'm sorry, the public, if you stick with us, you'll understand. Okay, any other questions from commissioners? If not, then this, I'm sorry. We had the public comment portion open for anybody to speak. And I do want to make a note that Commissioner Will Miller has joined us now.

Just comments. It's important that functionality like this occur, that there's an understanding. It's good that we're detailed. know this because this is exactly what's supposed to take place with real estate in your community. If you think you're going to develop and you're going to be positive, we've got to make adjustments and changes and this is one of those exact opportunities to change from a road to get more desirable property. our owners will have a positive outcome if it's exactly what we say it's going to be. And with them knowing it, it's more comfortable. It's just the ambiguity that not knowing that I believe to continue to do the same thing that you were saying, Mishar, about making sure they know that now this is going to be more of a co-design and or a different format of how we're presenting the properties and they have to know so that they feel comfortable in their community and they can see the added value potentially. So, I just wanted to.

Yeah, we're not gonna go back and forth. Unfortunately, that's not what this meeting is about. We had the public comment portion, that's over. So I think at this point, council, I'm looking for a motion. So commissioners, I'm looking for a motion to either recommend or approval or deny for city council.

I move to recommend approval to the city council. I second that motion.

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

Thank you. Commissioner Hall, would you consider amending your motion to include the conditions as a part of the staff approval?

Oh, yes, and we should probably mention those. Would you like me to read them out? Yes.

Okay. The staff recommends approval conditions of PC2026-06, subject to completion of technical review and confirmation that the vacation does not impair public access, emergency access, utility, drainage, and the ability of the seven proposed lots to comply with the UDO. It's also conditional upon the approval of the next agenda item. So if you do not approve the next agenda item, then this one would not be approved. Also conditional that all resulting lots shall have legal and functional access to the improved public streets and approved access arrangements. All existing and required utility and drainage interests within the vacated areas shall be retained by easement or otherwise resolved by recording. The engineering public works departments and applicable utility providers shall confirm that the vacation will not adversely affect infrastructure, drainage, or service. And then finally, there's two more points. The final legal description and vacation exhibit shall match the area approved by the city and be suitable for recording. And the last point is any separate approvals required for vacation of public right of way shall be completed before the vacated area is incorporated into or relied upon by the plat. So there are a couple more steps. got to go to Public Works and City Council. And that's what that last point focuses in on.

OK. Thank you. All right. So would you like to amend?

So as amended, I propose to make a motion to approve the staff's recommendation of approval of this subject to the conditions. I second that motion.

Thank you. All right, roll call, please.

Adam Hall. Yes. Point of information. It's going to come to the council. It's going to come to planning and development. So I need to, I approve for it to come to planning to the council, but I need to have a visual with staff. I wanna go out and see the actual location. Because this is gonna have to be explained to the council also. And I don't know if the people here really got a clear understanding of what happened today, but they will also have a chance to come to the council meeting and to the planning and development committee meeting before it goes to the floor for approval. So there'll be other opportunities if you have questions to come before the council if you have any concerns. But I would encourage you, if there's a misunderstanding, talk to the staff. What they're doing is a good thing. As Councilman Will Miller said, when we're trying to develop the community, there are going to be times where when things have been the same for so long, it's kind of uncomfortable because it's new. But we're trying to do the best that we can to help develop this community. And we have a fantastic zoning and planning staff that is working on behalf of the city. I'll be willing to talk to anyone after the meeting, but this is not the last step. So there are other steps that you can come and you can air grievances. If you have an understanding, I just want you all to be after the meeting is over, if you have questions directly to the staff, talk to them and they can kind of explain to you because we don't have a lot of time to get explained here in public. So I'm more than willing to believe that they will explain to you and kind of get you on board on what's actually happened. All right. Thank you. Mr.

Chair, was it not explained earlier that the second item that we have to make, take action on, will further explain what is transpiring here?

That's right. I explained that earlier. Yes. I want to emphasize that.

Once again, emphasize that, that there should be further clearance or understanding around it with the second item.

Right.

Thank you, counsel.

I'm not sure. proposed lots of how everything is supposed to be planned out and was shared in the letter, but I don't think it will be an issue after the meeting if folks want to stick around and actually see a visual of what's proposed for the development.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Any other comments?

No, I'm just saying you got to explain it to them. You send them a letter. Sure. And if they don't understand that letter, they won't be able to say, I got a letter. And everybody doesn't have that level of understanding sometimes in the letter. And I just think that they will need to be explained who really don't understand so they can get a clear understanding. You have an excellent engineer, so y'all talk to him after the meeting.

If it's not clear enough by the end of this meeting.

But I think the second part will be very clear, but even if it's not, you can ask questions.

And your vote, sir?

Yes. So we should talk to Will. No, William Allen. You mean Will, Will, Will? No, William Allen. That's Cook and Miller. I know Cook. Will.

yes oh and i'll note for the record uh mr willie miller came after roll call but he is present and was present for most of this um mr miller here yes yes yes uh mr harrell yes mr washington yes and mr allen yes and mr sarah yes all right we'll show by

Very good. Thank you. We're going to move on now to PC 2026-07, which is a replat of a two-acre lot into seven lots. The address is, again, the same one, approximately 100 West 20th Place. The petitioner is Broadway Area CDC. So, staff introduction, please.

This is the second part. So the property on the north side of 20th Place is currently vacant. It does not have any improvements on it between 20th Place and the railroad. Broadway Area CDC owns this property, and they are proposing to basically divide this property up into seven different lots for single family homes. And those would be accessible from a little cul-de-sac that comes off of Adams Street and stretches into that vacant area. The petition was received on time. It was complete and completely met our application requirements. They did submit their proof of publications. Prior to the meeting, we did not receive any public input, but the staff is recommending a favorable recommendation, of course, with conditions. So if you want me to read those out afterwards, then I will. And with that, I'd like to invite the petitioner up.

Please.

Are you okay? Welcome back.

development, we're proposing that we replot lap 33 of the first subdivision of Washington Manor doing two into seven residential homes. This would be made by a new cul-de-sac extending the roadway north and will be large enough for garbage trucks to be able to pick up and also a fire truck to make a turn around about in a safe manner. This replant is paired with the vacation that you guys heard previously of the roadway and we are taking possession of this half of the right of way that we just discussed to be able to utilize and maximize the amount of property there. As I said, there are seven lots that will be all single-family homes on ground that is sent vacant and produced almost nothing for years. The lots range from 7,900 square feet to over 14,000 square feet, which already exceeds the surrounding areas of Washington Manor. No variances from the underlying density are being thought. The seven new lots This site will be infill inside of a fully developed subdivision. So water, sewer, and utilities will all be utilized for the existing subdivision that are there. As it sits right now, the parcel cannot be developed as it sits now for more than a couple homes. So we're making the best use of it. We're requesting that the seven single-family lots in all of the larger area that meets the city's ordinance on the last vacant parcel of Washington Manor that will be served by the city streets gain approval from this board today to start the process of .

OK, thank you. Yeah, questions from commissioners?

Yeah, as I look at this one right here, this map here, I see what appears to be the road going up to the last house on the north. I see part of what appears to be another lot to the right. Is that that property that if you look at this map here, it shows 2037, I guess, So is this an infringement on the road or what? If you're understanding what I'm saying.

I don't understand what you're saying.

What I see is the road going up to that house on the north.

Actually, to the east. That's to the east, right? To the farthest one over? To the right?

So it's not going to be a road anymore because it's getting vacated?

What I'm asking about is this what appears to be

So I have the same question. It just it shows that it's using that road that's being vacated as the driveway.

Yeah, this one right here, sir. So lot seven, the one you guys are talking about, that's the future lot seven. That will utilize the existing roadway. The roadway on the south is what was just vacated and will become side yard and grass. There will be no road there. So lot seven will gain access. on the existing .

Oh, is that to the east? Okay, so as shown on this map, it's not, this is just, this is not representative of what will actually be done.

So the driveway should be east in this drawing?

The driveway should be to the east. The driveway to the south was shown because if we don't get

Okay. All right. So you would be able to correct that on the next, if this moves forward?

If we receive approval from the other boards.

Okay. Is that clear, Mr. Cook?

Yeah, but again, my question is this. They show what appears to be part of a lot right here that's on part of that roadway where somebody else appears to own that property.

While Rich comes up, as I mentioned, they're in the public right-of-way, Commissioner Cook. There is a private property owner that has made improvements in the right-of-way.

Yeah, we saw that. That's what I'm saying. The fence.

Somebody else's property. But they still encroach. That was the encroachment that was brought up earlier.

Okay.

I thought that when there's a vacation, though, that the person on one side gets part of it and the person on the other side gets half of it. That is the Indiana code. So this is our half here.

Okay. So this is our half here.

Pass that.

This parcel will get this half.

Rich. Rich.

And this half here.

Rich. That's a bigger one.

So this is one of your lines here? No, this is the line that is encroached. He's not included in the submersion. Okay, so he's not going to get. He still has a corner of a fence that's got to get out.

This corner is still going to be on your property. Correct. So that's what the question order, sorry.

Well, where's the road going to be?

There's no road. There's no road.

This is going to be all vacation. Okay, thank you sir.

Are there any other questions from commissioners?

Here you can use mine if you want. For the proposed lots, have the homes already been used? Do you know what type of homes are going to be used? That corner piece makes it very confusing.

What?

This corner piece makes everything kind of confusing. Yeah, so he still needs to keep this. He needs to make his fence go right.

So they haven't been designed yet, the home? You just have an idea of where it's going to be.

Trying to explain that in words is difficult. That's what I'm saying. I welcome whoever wants to buy that piece.

So you don't have any rendering that you're displaying for them?

This is just the subdivision right now? That's why we're doing this. We have a building envelope that shows you how big of a house you can build, but what the actual house is going to be is going to meet the similar requirements and the covenants of the subdivision.

When you say building envelope, can you elaborate a little bit more?

Building envelope is a buildable area. So you have a front yard space.

Will these be slabs or will they have basements or has that been decided?

That is continued upon the homeowner, but more than likely probably going to be a cross fence. They could put a basement there, but I think the water table might be a little empty.

Alright, other questions?

Yeah, will the cul-de-sac be privately owned and maintained? It will not. It will be turned over to the city. So will that need another

It'll be when they file the plat, it will designate additional public right-of-way.

All right, can I add then what that will be called, that area, what address will be given?

Addresses won't be given until after the final plat. You've got to coordinate with the post office and county on that.

Okay, are you satisfied? Are you satisfied? Okay, very good. All right, since there's no more questions from commissioners.

I have a few questions. Okay. The railroad that's there, is there Let me do my job. I didn't ask you anything. I'm talking to the person. As the councilman, let me get the questions I need to ask. He is the developer, not you. No disrespect, but when I ask him a question, please let him respond. No one interrupted you while you was up here at the podium. Give me the same respect. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Now, are there trains that constantly go through the area? Have you looked at that and how that will affect the Colby SAC and the houses.

Yes, in the houses we have moved as far away from the railroad track as possible. There's a 25 foot buffer that is required by the UDL that we incorporated into the class.

Okay. Have you invested in the PowerPoint presentation Because when this goes to the council, I'm going to be honest with you, you coming up to the council and showing us stuff on the book and these questions, you need to have a full PowerPoint presentation that you can put up on the screen on the TV because council persons will have questions about this. And I want you to be prepared as possible because the final authority is going to come. So can you have a PowerPoint presentation prepared and be provided to all the council persons so they can follow along with you?

I had one prepared, but I wasn't sure what technology would be available since we were displaced from the normal.

OK. So find out what technology that you would need, because it's going to come to the plan of development. And I'm going to request in committee that you be able to do a presentation that the council people can follow you from the screen. So if any questions come up, you will be able to answer any questions they may have.

Thank you for the recommendation.

All right. And the third thing I want to ask, I don't know of any commissioners, but I would like to set a time where I can meet you at the location site. I want to be able to be boots on the ground and be able to. So after this meeting, can we schedule a time for you and I or any other commissioners? I'd like to be involved, too. You'd like to be involved? Yeah. Another person I'm going to contact is the president of the city council, who is Linda Vance-Coswell, because this is her district. And so she may also want to come and walk that area and actually see what it looks like. Would you be OK with that? I would welcome it. OK. Absolutely. I would.

I work six days a week.

All right. No problem. Thank you. Just come right back behind you. You're saying you do have a PowerPoint. You do have some type of media presentation. It would be good to make that available for the public, too, because if you have a site where you can reference, where they can get a little bit more detail, I think that would be beneficial because Some people are, you know, kind of look at things. Some people really understand when you have something visual. I'll just put it like that. Thank you. So, you do have that already?

I have PDFs and visuals, and I can make a PowerPoint. so you think it's a waste of time to have a powerpoint ready to show before the planning commission that's going to go before the council if there was not before the council if i i don't know what media i had the information that was required of me for this for this presentation was presented to the staff and it's in the in the booklets and it was mailed to the public go above and beyond that i have no problem doing that for you sir i will do it and we will have it available at the next meeting

One last question. Have you all decided what each of these lots are going to sell for?

Hey, Bill, I think that's not, I don't know if that's part of our realm right now. I think so.

I know, but it's either yes or no is what I was expecting.

Okay.

Not a detailed one. Just yes or no. We have not price pointed them yet. Okay. Thank you.

Yes, Corey.

Thank you, Mr. President. Counselor Washington, I hear you, and I think what we will do from a staff standpoint going forward is require a PowerPoint presentation or a presentation for all petitioners going forward. That way our digital media crew is prepared and the petitioners know the expectations of what's coming in.

Now, let me say this, Ms. Sharp, with all due respect, I appreciate that. And the work that you do is impeccable. I'm talking about the fact that when people come to the city, they should have a standard to be prepared to say we want to come do business in the city and any board that we go before. This is what we want to show you. We want to have everything. So some things the staff should have to tell developers when they come into a community. They should be overwhelmingly having visuals so they can impress and say, this is what we're ready for. And as we are trying to do business in the city of Gary, Gary is no less than Hobart, no less than Munster, no less than Dyer. The same respect that they get, they need to get the same respect to you and your staff by having presentations prepared. And if you don't need a presentation at that time, you and Dr. Moore can say, hey, we don't need that at this time. but i just know how this is going to end up before the council and the reason why i'm asking you all this sir i want you to be able before that meeting to be able to do everything possible to have everything in place because there probably will be a lot of questions um regarding your presentation it's nothing for against i just want you to be prepared as much as possible for questions that may come up when a meeting happens i appreciate that thank you for that miss sharp

Just adding, the tension in the room goes down when you have more information. Because sometimes you have questions in the back of your mind as a homeowner, as a resident, as an investor, just across the board. And it's great that we have some visuals here in addition to in real estate. They even have virtual walkthroughs. And when you're talking about the envelope, There's a lot of reference in terms of envelope. So envelope could be an actual fictitious home that is a walkthrough, et cetera, et cetera. So more clarification makes everyone feel more comfortable and you get more people on your team. And definitely historically Broadway CDC has done a lot of great things in that area. And we want to see the, We want to take our standards higher.

Okay, thanks. I'm going to open up to the public comments now. So thank you. You can sit down. Is there anybody here that would like to speak for or against 2026-07? Okay. Just a reminder, you have two minutes. You've already stated your name and address. Thank you.

So for clarification again, is this new development a part, is it going to be considered Washington Manor as well, or is this a separate development with a separate, with a different name?

You're expressing your comments. I don't know that we're going to respond to those at this point. No, it's just comments. You could say as comment you would like to know eventually what it's going to be called if you'd like.

Okay. So I would just like to make a comment then since we're not answering questions. I've lived in Gary all my life, born and raised here. I own two properties here, actually three. I pay property taxes here. And I don't know, I've never been to one of these meetings before. So I'm kind of new with this. I really don't appreciate the tone of some of the members on the board when we're just trying to get information as homeowners. Because we have to pay to live here. And also, it's not about not wanting development or to grow. As a community, we just want answers as to what is coming into our community that we have invested in over the years. I welcome development. I just want to know what's going on. So it seems also that some of the council members were kind of confused, thinking the same thing that I was thinking that there was going to be a road that goes to Washington Street. So now we know that there's no road going through Washington Street. So don't take offense when we ask questions. We just want to know, because we live here, and we pay to live here, and we pay dearly. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, sir.

Just to piggyback off what the young lady just mentioned, I've also been at my present location for 20 years, where you are building at. I've been out of my pocket. I'm not originally from here. I came here in April of 92. And at that present location for the last 20 J and B constructions have taken over whether they are building this new house set. I've cleared all of that land out of my pocket. Why? Because it needed to be done. At my location at 2078 Broadway, that street, you could not pass down that street because of the trees. that was living there. I've had my house broken into once. I have my vehicles broken into over 12 times. So I took it upon myself to rent excavator, bypass, dumpster box. And on the weekends that I was off, I cleared those locks. If you go by there now, you'll see they're clear. That's because of me and I'm not saying this for bragging rights. This is just how it raised where I come from and what you do in the community. I can take you in any part of Gary where I've lived here since 92 and shown you and talk to the neighbors and show them what I have done and I'm not even from here. So when I feel insulted when People come and try to talk down to me, do things that they don't even have a clue about. And for our new developers, I hope you know what you're getting into. For us, the land, what was previously there, you build it on something that you don't have a clue on.

Thank you, sir. I think your time is up, Council. Appreciate it. All right, anybody else like to speak or against? If not, I'm going to call the public comment portion of this case closed. I just want to emphasize Councilman Washington's comments that we do welcome and we want people to understand what's happening in this situation. It could be very good for this city. He did point out that the developer could have done a better job with illustrating what was happening here today. So we do understand the frustration and potential confusion, and we want to make sure it's clear. And this is a beginning step for the public, and you will have the opportunity to go to the committee meeting and subsequently the council meetings. There'll be at least two that you'll be able to attend and get as much clarification as necessary. And I think with Councilman Washington's comments, the developer will be surely more prepared at the future meetings. So I encourage you to attend those and I think you'll get a lot more information. So thank you for your comments, Councilman. All right, public comments, any further questions from members? If not, I would like to, yeah, go ahead.

I do want to make another comment that I think should also be added if there's like a motion moving forward to accept what's being proposed, that the fence that encroaches on the new development area the necessary steps just need to be taken in order to make that adjustment, whether that's coordinating and adjusting that fence so that the fence is properly in the property of, you know, the homeowner to the south of the development. Just want to make sure that that's...

Addressed.

Included.

All right, Corey, if you can capture that as well as the other conditions so we're prepared to make a motion to approve or deny.

You got it. Okay, to summarize, Commissioner Allen, the staff recommends approval of subjects with the following conditions. The first item is that the encroaching fence that was previously on West 20th Place that is potentially vacated will be coordinated removal between the petitioner and that owner. It will not be a responsibility of the city to do that, but that that work be coordinated so that proper access can be given to lot seven, which will be accessible off of Washington Street. Additionally, they will submit the signed and sealed survey and primary plat along with the secondary flat that's necessary as a part of the platting process. They will follow the UDO, which is the Unified Development Ordinance that we recently passed and coordinate final configuration of the lots with the right-of-way vacation that was previously approved and then obtain engineering public works and utility sign-offs, which comes as a part of signing a plat. So they will submit a fully signed plat document. And that concludes the approval with conditions.

Okay, let's seek a motion to approve or deny, including those conditions from staff. Is there a motion? Okay, we have a motion and a second. Council, roll call, please.

Adam Hall?

Yes.

Bill Cook? Yes. Willie Miller? Yes. Alan Harris? Yes. Darren Washington? Yes. William Allen? Yes. Tom Serra? Yes. We'll show by a vote of seven to zero, this will receive favorable recommendations, some to the conditions as presented in the staff report.

Okay, thank you, everyone. Ms. Sharpe, are there any planning or zoning department updates?

Yes, please. Thank you. This is the first month that we have fully been able to have the public interact with us using the new Unified Development Ordinance and the zoning map. The zoning map and the code are up online. They're at www.gary.gov slash zoning. And if you go to the maps and codes tab, that is where both the code and an interactive GIS map is. I probably look at that GIS map three to four times a day. And it's been a great resource. So I would encourage you all to continue to promote the location of that site because it will save everyone time and money if they reference it straight off of the website and do their research. But we are seeing this very first petition come in following the new unified development ordinance, lot size, setbacks, buffers. It was great to hear them talk about a landscape buffer because that's part of the requirement that we have. So that concludes my updates, but we're really excited to have that live and on board.

Very good. Thank you very much. All right, our next meeting is October 15th, 2026, which is a Thursday at 3.30 at this location. So I'm looking for a motion to adjourn.

So moved, Mr. Chair. Second.

Okay, thank you. And thank you everyone from the public.

We are all citizens here of this city. Today, I am announcing that I've signed an executive order establishing a one-year moratorium on new data center developments in the city of Gary. Let me be clear, Gary is not against technology. We are not against innovation, and we are not against economic development. In fact, Gary currently has no data centers operating within our city. And I believe that gives us an important opportunity, an opportunity to be thoughtful, deliberate and responsible about what we allow in our community before this industry takes root. Artificial intelligence is advancing at an extraordinary pace. And what should get all of our attention is that some of the very leaders driving this technology are now raising concerns about how quickly AI is advancing and whether safety measures are keeping pace. And that matters. because the infrastructure required to power this technology is enormous. Data centers can place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and other critical infrastructure. And here in Gary, we have just seen firsthand how important reliable infrastructure is to the daily lives of our residents and our businesses. Before we commit significant amounts of our electricity, water, land and infrastructure capacity to an industry that is constantly evolving and evolving this quickly. We need to understand the full impact. That is why I'm taking action now. During this moratorium, the city will carefully examine the impact of data centers on electric grid, our water resources, infrastructure, environment, economic development, and the quality of life of our residents. We will also examine the rapidly changing demands created by artificial intelligence and determine what standards and safeguards should be in place before any future development moves forward. And I believe this conversation must extend beyond Gary. It is my hope that the federal government establish thoughtful guardrails around the continued advancements of AI. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to transform the economy and improve our lives. But when technology is advancing at this speed, we have a responsibility to make sure innovation is accompanied by accountability, safety, and common sense. Local governments should not be forced to make long-term infrastructure decisions in isolation while our nation is still working to understand the implications of rapidly advancing AI. Gary can embrace innovation while demanding responsibility. We can welcome investment and protect our infrastructure. We can pursue economic growth and protect our residents. We can prepare for the future without blindly rushing into it. This is what responsible leadership looks like. This moratorium is not about closing Gary's doors. It is about making sure that if we open the doors, we know exactly what we're welcoming in. We will continue pursuing jobs, continuing pursuing investments, innovation, and opportunity, but every decision must answer one fundamental question. does it make the people in the city of Gary stronger? That is the standard. And that is the responsibility I have to the people of Gary. So again, thank you and God bless the city of Gary.

Did you know pouring grease down your kitchen sink may seem harmless, but once it cools, it hardens inside your pipes. Over time, that buildup can cause clogged drains, sewer backups, costly plumbing repairs, and even pollution in our rivers and lakes. The good news? Preventing it is easy. First, let grease cool and scrape any leftover food and grease from your pots and pans. Next, pour the cooled grease into a sealed container, such as an empty can or jar with a lid. Once the container is full and the grease has completely hardened, simply throw it away with your regular household trash. And remember, never pour grease down the sink or use your garbage disposal to get rid of it. small actions make a big difference. By doing your part, you're helping protect your home, our sewer system, and our environment. Together with the Gary Sanitary District, we can help keep Gary cleaner, from the sewer to the streets.

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