Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Planners lift stop-work order for Villages of Sand Creek

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

The Chesterton Plan Commission voted 6-0 Thursday to lift a stop-work order pertaining to one property formerly owned by Don Meyers Construction Co. in the Villages of Sand Creek so that the new owners can build there.

The Commission met last night for what they thought would be a quick, five minute meeting to put signatures on the Easton Park development secondary plat after a few minor changes were made, but the meeting turned out to be over an hour long when property owner Michelle Glinski told the board during public comment that she was informed by her title company that her two lots on Lost Tree Drive have a stop-work order on them.

Glinski said her title had been acquired prior to knowing about the stop-work order issued by the Town in May 2012. She and her husband bought the property in December 2013 and contemplated selling the land but now wish to build there.

The stop-work order was placed on new homes in Phases 4 and 5 in default for not building a walking trail that was required in lieu of sidewalks, Commission Attorney Chuck Parkinson said.

Planner Fred Thompson said the order was filed in hopes that Meyers wouldn’t sell any more lots, but it appears “one snuck through.”

In attendance were members from the homeowners association, Nicole Cherep and Nancy Simko who said the HOA has spent money on legal fees against Meyers who isn’t maintaining the handful of lots he owns, at one of which a tree has fallen onto a house. They said Meyers owes the HOA at least $9,000, but he has been unresponsive.

The properties however have never gone to a tax sale, they said.

The planners discussed if the planned unit development ordinance (PUD) could be changed since there is an issue over the walking paths and the walking bridge, which were to give the development some green space. Cherep said the HOA does not have the funds on-hand to put in the bridge.

Parkinson said that it would be up to the developer or the property owner to petition a change to the PUD, but advised that the plan commission talk with the homeowner’s association on a solution.

The planners asked for the HOA to “be in touch” and come back at a future meeting.

The motion to lift the stop-work order was accepted for Glinski’s property only, as they feel a case-by-case approach is the most appropriate.

Making the motion, planner Emerson DeLaney said the commission sends the signal of “shame on you to Meyers for what he did” and also to the title company for failing to notice the order.

“The (owners) want to enjoy this area. They want to come here because we’ve got a great school system. That’s the reason I decided to move here 17 years ago,” DeLaney said.

 

 

Posted 11/20/2015

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

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