Three-lot retail subdivision slated for 240/Ballard Lane

Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Street signs mark the corner of Ballard Lane and State Road 240 on Greencastle's East Side (note Walmart store in background) where a three-lot retail subdivision has been approved on 26.48 acres of property owned by John Sturgeon of Greencastle.

Retail development in the City of Greencastle is apparently about to continue its march east.

A piece of prime retail development property at the southwest corner of Ballard Lane and State Road 240 on Greencastle's East Side received City Plan Commission blessing Monday night to be divided into three lots.

The 26.48-acre site -- located on the south side of 240 at its intersection with the main roadway to the Putnam County Airport -- is situated between Calbert Way and Ballard Lane, immediately east of the Walmart Superstore site.

The Walmart store and its adjacent outlots presently mark the easternmost retail expansion for Greencastle.

Property owner John Sturgeon received unanimous approval from the City Plan Commission to subtract the retail subdivision -- known as Ballard Park Subdivision, Phase I -- from an original 63.5-acre parcel and create three general business-zoned (GB2) lots in the process.

The smallest lot, 2.3 acres in area, is situated at the corner of Ballard Lane and 240, with a 10.49-acre site immediately to the west.

A larger, 12.77-acre site, sits behind those two, completely spanning the east-west area between Ballard Lane and Calbert Way (the roadway providing access to both Walmart and the Area 30/Ascena Group facility).

City Planner Shannon Norman's report indicated the plat "takes into account future land-use patterns, the applicability of drainage and utility easements, as well as a desire to leave the parcels zoned for future commercial development."

Petitioner Sturgeon "is actively working with interested parties," Norman also noted, although no firm development plans are in place at this time.

She told the Plan Commission that interest has been expressed in Lot 1, the smallest parcel located right at the corner of Ballard Lane and 240.

The balance of the Sturgeon-owned property south of the three-lot subdivision will remain zoned light industrial, the same designation as the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center site east of Ballard Lane.

Meanwhile, Development Center Director Bill Dory pointed out that the proximity of the Putnam County Airport means a Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) height restriction of 90 feet is in place for any building on the property.

Plan Commission member Mike Murphy made the motion to approve the Sturgeon request, which was seconded by Wayne Lewis. Also casting affirmative votes were Sue Murray, Eric Wolfe, Matt Walker, Tim Trigg and Jack Murtagh, who conducted the meeting in the absence of chairman Bill Hamm.

Also absent Monday night were Donnie Watson, Mark Hammer and Laurie Hardwick.

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  • I hope they will have access to Calbert Way/Walmart entrance so we don't have to pay for a traffic light at Ballard Lane. Too bad we can't fill some of the vacant buildings.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Tue, Mar 25, 2014, at 7:18 PM
  • Fill the empty buildings before more are built to sit empty.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Tue, Mar 25, 2014, at 8:44 PM
  • I agree, we have several empty buildings already, why build new ones then in a few short years have more empty ones.

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Wed, Mar 26, 2014, at 8:02 AM
  • How long has the building across from Kroger been empty??

    -- Posted by foxtrotter on Wed, Mar 26, 2014, at 11:50 AM
  • And the building beside Kroger has empty spots. Also the one to the west of Kroger and the list goes on and on.

    -- Posted by dumpsterdiva2 on Wed, Mar 26, 2014, at 9:50 PM
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