Officials approve disputed industrial park near Honda site

Decatur County Commissioners have approved a 425-acre industrial park near the Honda Motor Co. assembly plant under construction at Greensburg.

The decision Monday rebuffed an Area Plan Board recommendation in March against rezoning the area to industrial from agricultural, according to the Greensburg Daily News. The plan board opposed making the change after dozens of residents turned out in opposition, saying the traffic would hurt their life style.

Local business interests and many other residents pushed for rezoning to take advantage of anticipated spin-off development from the $550 million plant, which is slated to open in fall 2008. About 2,000 workers will make the Civic compact car.

California-based Panattoni Development LLC asked for the change in the hope of attracting light manufacturing and warehousing. It hired Baker & Daniels attorney Joseph Scimia, who helped the Japanese automaker buy 1,700 acres nearby.

Panattoni built a warehouse in Plainfield that was leased to Epson America Inc. in 2005, and is building an office building at City Center Drive and Pennsylvania Street in Carmel.