The meeting began with the approval of the June 3, 2026, minutes.
APC Petition 2026-12 Trevor Stapp received approval to rezone 6.04 acres from an A-1 zoning
classification to an I-1 zoning classification to operate a Light Industrial office and warehouse. This request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section Number 1204. The property is owned by the petitioner and is located at 12040 S CR 800 W, Westport in Jackson Township. Trevor stated that this request was part of the company planning for its future growth.
APC Petition 2026-13 Jacob & Kinsee Hempstead received approval to rezone 2.96 acres from an A-1zoning classification to an A-2 zoning classification to build a single-family dwelling. This request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section Number 915 & 920(7). The parcels are owned by the petitioner and Randy Huff and are located behind 6842 S CR 220 SW in Sand Creek Township
APC Petition 2026-14 Tracy Volz received approval to rezone 2.99 acres out of 4.5218 acres from an A-1zoning classification to an A-2 zoning classification to build a single-family dwelling. This request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section Number 915 & 920(7). The property is owned by the petitioner and is located just West of 9610 W CR 100 S, Greensburg in Clay Township.
APC Petition 2026-15 Blake Haley & Madelyn Bryant– is requesting to rezone 2.99 acres out of
5.136 acres from an A-1 zoning classification to an A-2 zoning classification to build a single-family dwelling. This request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section Number 915 & 920(7). The property is owned by John & Cythia Garzon and is located just West of 4992 S CR 60 E, Greensburg in Marion Township.
APC Petition 2026-16 Robert Andrews received approval to rezone 1.5 acres out of 4.81 acres from an A1 zoning classification to an A-2 zoning classification to build a single-family dwelling. This request falls under Decatur County Ordinance Section Number 915 & 920(7). The property is owned by Tamara Clookey and is located next to 7855 W CR 350 N, Greensburg in Adams Township.
Decatur County Revitalization Project Show Cause Hearing
R2026-19 – George Hassfurder- Doug Westerfeld stated that improvements have been made on this property and no actions needed to be taken this evening.
R2026-20 – Robert Sebastian- Mr. Sebastian stated he has been working on cleaning up his property. He stated that all that is remaining is cars on his property. Those vehicles are just waiting for titles to come in and they will be removed. The commission voted to give Mr. Sebastian a 30-day extension.
R2026-21 – William & Doris Reynolds- Mr. Reynolds stated that he is working on clean-up efforts. The commission voted to give Mr. Reynolds a 30-day extension.
R2026-22 – Patrick Land- Mr. Land updated the commission members stating that he is making progress and the board agreed and voted to give him a 30-day extension.
R2026-23 – Thomas & Colletta Robbins- Doug Westerfeld stated that improvements have been made on this property and no actions needed to be taken this evening.
R2026-24 – Casy & Cody Oliger- No representative appeared before the commission. The board voted to move this situation forward in the process without an extension.
Town of St. Paul Comprehensive Plan Presentation
Hailey Roark, AICP Planning Project Manager with HWC Engineering presented the draft of the Comprehensive Plan to the commission and to the public. Hailey explained that they are now entering the adoption phase of the comprehensive plan and this meeting was the public hearing.
The public hearing on the Town of St. Paul’s draft Comprehensive Plan generated alot of discussion, with many residents attending to ask questions about the document and its potential impact on the community.
Much of the conversation focused on speculation that the plan could pave the way for a data center or heavy industrial development.
Representatives from the Area Plan Commission (APC) and HWC Engineering clarified during the meeting that no data center proposal was included in the Comprehensive Plan and that no such project was before the commission for consideration.
Several residents also questioned the language used throughout the draft plan. Speakers asked for greater clarity on provisions they believed could affect agricultural land, property rights, future zoning decisions, or commercial development near existing farms. Citizens requested that portions of the document be revised before the plan receives final approval.
Board members and project representatives explained that updating the Comprehensive Plan is necessary for the Town of St. Paul to remain eligible for grant funding through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Officials said the town plans to pursue grants for infrastructure improvements, including sanitary sewer, utility, and other public infrastructure projects, and that an updated Comprehensive Plan is one of the requirements for those funding opportunities.
During board discussion, APC members stated that their role was limited to determining whether the Town of St. Paul’s draft Comprehensive Plan was generally consistent with the broader Decatur County Comprehensive Plan. They noted that specific revisions requested by residents would be addressed by the St. Paul Town Council during its own review and adoption process. Board members also encouraged residents to continue attending future Town Council meetings to provide input on the plan’s language.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the APC approved a motion to issue a favorable recommendation for the draft Comprehensive Plan and return it to the St. Paul Town Council for further consideration. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously by the board members present, allowing the town to continue the adoption process while maintaining its timeline for future infrastructure grant applications.
