By PAULENE POPARAD

Are coffee wars ahead for Chesterton?

Starbucks wants to come to town. Right next door to McDonald’s, which has been heavily promoting its coffee offerings, and across the street from Dunkin Donuts, already known for a good cup of java.

But Starbucks wants permission from the Chesterton Board of Zoning Appeals to swap its logo for an abandoned Shell sign 70 feet tall at 524 Indian Boundary Rd. where the coffee giant would locate. Luke Oil owns the property and its representatives brought the petition for preliminary hearing Thursday.

After an extended discussion BZA members said the request in its current form was too vague and more variances from town code than the two being requested would be needed; by a 5-0 vote they continued the preliminary hearing until March 27.

That gives Luke Oil vice-presidents Ryan Richardson and Tom Collins time to huddle with Starbucks to determine if they want to pursue use of the 70-foot sign. The signal sent by the BZA was clear: the request isn’t likely to fly.

“Is this a deal-breaker?” asked BZA member Kim Goldak. Replied Richardson, “That’s what they’ve indicated to us.”

He said Starbucks feels Chesterton’s population is marginal to support the gourmet coffee store and Starbucks would need the sign to attract business off nearby Interstate 94 and State Road 49 to be a successful venture. Luke Oil is agreeing to remove a second, 30-foot-tall Shell sign at the northeast corner of the property.

Richardson said Starbucks would be at a disadvantage without use of the 70-foot sign because McDonald’s has one about 50 feet tall and a second, smaller freestanding sign with digital message board.

Building commissioner Mike Orlich made the distinction that the McDonald’s site was in continuous use with no ownership change when a new building was built there, unlike the Shell sign which became illegal after the station closed and was torn down in 2006.

Town code sets a maximum height for signs in that zoning district at 18 feet without a variance. According to BZA member Jim Kowalski, “In my opinion, if Starbucks doesn’t want to build because they won’t get that (70-foot) sign, hey, that’s our ordinance.” Collins suggested the board approve the variance specifically for Starbucks and if they don’t open, Luke would take the high-rise Shell sign down.

Commented Kowalski, “Know what the best thing is for Starbucks? Rent a billboard.” BZA member Sig Niepokoj said opportunities are available to rent space on informational highway signs before interstate-highway exits, and board member Brandon Kroft observed that as far as tourists, “I think Starbucks knows Indian Boundary Road is not a secret.”

Kroft said the high-rise Shell sign is a dinosaur from the long-ago days when Indian Boundary west of State Road 49 was allowed to develop haphazardly. Goldak pointed to new development on the east side of State Road 49 as a model for acceptable signage, and Kowalski said other Starbucks elsewhere thrive without huge high-rise signs.

Collins and Richardson were put on the spot defending Starbucks’ wishes. “Don’t look at us like we’re demanding something,” said Collins, who conceded, “It’s a very selfish request they’re making.” Assured Goldak, “We’re not trying to kill the messenger.”

Starbucks would be one of two or three tenants in Luke Oil’s planned approximately 4,000 square-foot commercial building. The current Shell road cuts onto Indian Boundary would be closed and access made off an entrance drive into Indian Oak Mall. Luke Oil is seeking additional permission for a common sign on its property advertising both its tenants and some of the mall’s under agreement with its new owner.

Collins said they’ll communicate to Starbucks that closer adherence to town code is more likely to be approved as far as signage if they want to pursue the zoning petition.

Explained Goldak, “We need to raise the bar here, not lower it.” Niepokoj said he doesn’t believe not having the 70-foot sign is the stumbling block Starbucks is making it out to be.

Also Thursday, members discussed Kowalski’s suggestion that something be done about variances that are granted but the commercial project involved doesn’t commence. Town attorney Charles Lukmann said the BZA can make it a condition of the variance that a building permit be issued within one year or the variance would be reviewed or revoked.

The meeting was the BZA’s first of the year. Fred Owens was elected president and Goldak vice-president. Welcomed as new members were Kroft and Niepokoj.

Posted 2/29/2008