Lafayette annexation proposed

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Mayor Tony Roswarski laid out his vision of annexation for the city of Lafayette Thursday afternoon.  In total, it's 850 acres in two distinct portions on the city's southeast side.

The largest portion, the so-called donut hole, is already surrounded on all sides by the city.  It's loosely bordered by Creasy Lane to the west, McCarty Lane to the north, Veteran's Memorial Parkway to the east, and Haggerty Lane to the south.

Although officials believe up to 4,900 residents are included, the biggest attraction is that 74% of the land is zoned industrial.  Most of that is wide-open spaces.  Twelve percent is zoned for single family homes and an additional twelve percent is zoned for apartments.

"Many of the benefits of this annexation probably will happen long after I'm gone," Roswarski said.  "But we need to do some of these things now because water, sewer, roads take years and years."
    
Roswarski envisions particular improvements and an extension to Park East Boulevard, a road which currently ends at McCarty Lane.

Nearby resident Cathy Gurley told NewsChannel 18, for now, it feels like she lives in no man's land.  She doesn't live inside city limits but feels she's not fully claimed by the Tippecanoe County either.  She favors the annexation.

"It will be nice to have a vote in the city government,"  said Gurley.  "Somebody that we can connect with."

But not everybody in the Weston Woods subdivision feels the same way.
    
Ladona Sorenson likes the county lifestyle with fewer restrictions on family activities like a fire pit.  Though government services will go up for residents, so will the cost.

"We know our taxes are going to go up," said Sorenson.  "So I think that's going to have the biggest impact on our family."

Roswarski said a firm is going parcel by parcel to determine the added estimated cost that each property owner will pay.
    
"My hope is when they look at all their advantages, they'll say that's a good value," Roswarski said.

He hopes by giving residents months more time than what's required by law, he can build some consensus.

"I want to make sure our citizens and potential new citizens have every opportunity to understand what we're trying to do and why, see what services are available to them, and have all the information," said Roswarski.

A second proposed annexing parcel just east of the intersection of U.S. 52 and Veterans Memorial Parkway.  But almost all that is already developed industrial and there's little opposition expected.

The city has two public meetings for property owners set for later this month at Ivy Tech's Lilly Room.

Tuesday March 20 is intended for homeowners and is when the tax information should be available.

Wednesday, March 21, is intended for businesses owners.

Roswarski said all city departments will be represented for people to ask any question they want.

As for the timeline of the annexation, the mayor intends for first reading on June 4, a special public hearing with city council on August 16, second reading for the bill on October 1.  If passed, that could allow for an annexation to take effect as early as January 10, 2013.