Rezoning for $3.8B SK hynix facility gets thumbs down from APC

Neighbors, including contingent of Purdue semiconductor experts, get a victory in push to stop South Korean company’s facility near their homes in West Lafayette. City council gets final say April 7

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APC RECOMMENDS DENIAL IN REZONING FOR $3.8B SK HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR FACILITY

In a stunner Wednesday, a rezoning plan meant to clear the way for SK hynix to put a $3.87 billion advanced chip packaging facility in the South Korean company’s preferred spot in West Lafayette got a recommendation for denial Wednesday night from the Area Plan Commission.

The vote came after two hours of pushback from neighbors – including from several semiconductor researchers at Purdue and one who was part of the team that recruited and helped land SK hynix last year – over the idea of placing the proposed facility so close to residential areas in the city.

An overflow crowd came Wednesday to oppose a rezoning plan for land where SK hynix wants to build at $3.87 billion advanced chip packaging facility. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

The vote also came nearly a year after SK hynix, university, state and city officials announced plans to build in the Purdue Research Park in what was touted for a short time in April 2024 as the single largest development in the state’s history.

The West Lafayette City Council will get the final say in two weeks on Purdue Research Foundation’s request to rezone 121 acres north of Kalberer Road, between Yeager Road and Salisbury, County Road 50 West, from single-family residential to heavy industrial use.

But two city council members on the APC already were among the no votes Wednesday night, each referencing testimony by a room that leaned heavy on university-level expertise.

“I think there are enough concerns for the citizens that we have to listen,” Larry Leverenz, an APC member and president of the West Lafayette City Council, said. “We just have to play it on the safe side.”