The Chesterton
Advisory Plan Commission will hold a concept review at its next meeting,
6:30 p.m. Thursday Aug. 20, on PSR LLC’s proposed planned unit development
on 1100N, across the street from Dogwood Park and immediately west of the
Stone Meadows subdivision.
A concept review is
typically an informal give-and-take process which precedes the more rigorous
preliminary hearing. At the latter, planners determine whether they--or at
least a majority of them--approve in principle with the terms of the
proposed PUD. If they do, their next step is to schedule a public hearing on
the PUD, at which neighbors will have every opportunity to remonstrate
against the plan.
In July the Town
Council voted unanimously to approve the annexation of PSR’s 59 acres.
Members emphasized at the time, though, that annexation was in no way an
endorsement of PSR’s proposed PUD, but only a way to ensure that the town
has full control over what gets put on the property.
PSR originally
proposed, in December 2018, a mix of single-family, duplex, and triplex
units, as well as a pair of commercial buildings whose use was never
explained. At the time, residents of Stone Meadows, Rosehill Estates, and
Dogwood Estate vociferously objected to the plan, however, and the council
tabled it. Earlier this summer, the council un-tabled it for the purpose of
considering the annexation of the property, after PSR’s attorney, Greg
Babcock, announced that PSR has withdrawn the duplexes and triplexes from
the plan, but not the two commercial buildings.
A grass-roots
campaign against PSR’s proposed PUD has emerged over the last couple of
weeks, with numerous signs urging “NO” to the planned unit development
popping up along 1100N and Pearson Road.
In other business
on Thursday, planners will consider an amendment to the PUD ordinance
governing Easton Park. Under that amendment, minimum backyard depth would be
reduced from 25 feet to 20 feet for lots 1-74; maximum lot coverage would be
increased from 30 percent to 60 percent, also for lots 1-74; and maximum lot
coverage would be increased from 30 percent to 35 percent for an interior
lot and from 30 percent to 45 percent for a corner lot for lots 75-346.