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.
So Town Engineer
Mark O’Dell reported to the Town Council at its meeting Monday night.
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.
At their last
meeting, council members voted unanimously to approve the annexation of
PSR’s 59 acres. Members emphasized, 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, in December
2018, originally proposed 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announced that PSR has withdrawn the duplexes and triplexes from the plan,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 week or so,
with numerous signs urging “NO” to the planned unit development popping up
along 1100N and Pearson Road.
Plan Commission
Appointment
In other business,
Cassie Hammar was appointed to the open citizen’s seat on the Plan
Commission.
It was a
presidential appointment made by Member Sharon Darnell, D-4th, after
members, earlier in the evening, interviewed three applicants for the seat.
The citizen’s seat
had been held by Dane Lafata, who earlier this summer was elected by a
Democrat caucus to fill the 3rd District seat on the Town Council vacated by
the resignation of Bob Allison. Elected and appointed officials, and also
municipal employees, are precluded by state law from holding a citizen’s
seat.
Ton on Resale Shop
Member Jim Ton,
R-1st, took a moment at the end of the meeting to voice his hope that the
Duneland Resale Shop will open again soon, after being closed in the early
days of the pandemic. Ton, noting that most of the volunteers who staff the
Resale Shop are older and especially vulnerable to COVID-19, said that
perhaps some younger folks can get the operation up and running as before.
“Well, I’m just
missing the Resale Shop,” Tom remarked. “It’s a valuable asset to the
community. I’m really hoping someone will pick up the reins, because there
are things in there people can use.”
Fisher on the
Pandemic
Member Jennifer
Fisher, I-5th, for her part, made a heartfelt plea to all Dunelanders to
work together during the pandemic for everyone’s sake. “COVID has been very
stressful for people,” she said. “It’s changed the way we do things. It’s
become a point of contention. Are we going to wear a mask? Are we going to
eat out? Are we in favor of in-person school? I would encourage Chesterton
residents to support each other in making the decisions that are difficult
but must be made. We need to stand together to support each other.”
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