StoryPoint, a
company in the Midwest that specializes in living communities for seniors,
is looking to build a 162-unit development on the property located between
the Chesterton Medical Center clinic and Addison Pointe Health and Rehab
Center on Dickinson Rd.
Attorney Greg
Babcock spoke to the Chesterton Plan Commission on Thursday for a concept
review, presenting a letter from StoryPoint Development Officer Aaron
Seymour saying the community will consist of 120 apartments for independent
living and 42 units for enhanced living.
“(StoryPoint)
believes we can use this type of development in the north side of our
county,” Babcock said.
Approximately 70 to
80 jobs would be created as a result of the facility, Seymour’s letter said,
from unskilled labor to professional health providers.
The independent
living will consist of 72 one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedroom units and
eight two-bedroom deluxe units. It would have amenities like a dining
facility and a bistro, activity areas, library, banking, postal service,
barber/salon, fitness rooms and multi-purpose rooms.
The wing for
enhanced living, which is a step closer to assisted living, would have 30
one-bedroom units, four two-bedroom units and eight studio units.
The independent
living portion will be in a three-story building, about 48 feet at roof
height, Babcock said. The exterior will be brick with vinyl siding and
brick/stone veneer. Outdoor patios, walkways, seating, shrubs and trees are
also planned.
Drainage will be
routed to two small retention areas near the front drive, project engineer
Mike Duffy of DLZ said. There will be a larger detention area to the
southwest between Ind. 49 and Addison Pointe.
Sewer will hook
into the Dickinson Road lift station, Babcock said, which has capacity to
handle the flow.
Town Manager Bernie
Doyle commented that this senior living center will be unique to the area
and StoryPoint has been very cooperative with the Town since the idea was
made known to them about a year ago. He extended his gratitude to StoryPoint
for looking to build here.
“It complements the
town. It fills a niche,” Doyle said.
One planner, Thomas
Kopko, was however not comfortable with the three-story design. He said most
buildings nearby are no bigger than one story.
“It’s way bigger
than anything else over there. Way bigger,” Kopko said.
Planner Fred Owens
asked if this would be in competition with Addison Pointe. Babcock said it
wouldn’t since Addison Pointe operates as a rehab center with 24-hour
nursing and StoryPoint will be mainly independent living.
The plans will be
heard at the plan commission’s next meeting on May 19 for a preliminary
hearing.
Brassie Estates
plat accepted
In other matters,
the commission voted unanimously to approve the primary plat for Units 2 and
3 of Brassie Estates for 61 single-family units and Brassie Woods for 26
units in paired-patio homes, located west of Pearson Rd. and north of the
Brassie Golf Course.
The planned unit
development amendments were approved by the Town Council last week with
favorable recommendation by the planners.
No changes have
been made on the plat, Babcock said, from what was presented for the PUD.
A Porter Cove
resident spoke in remonstration during the public hearing, expressing
concerns he and his neighbors have about the impact the development would
have on them.
“We chose this area
to live because it’s kind of like being out in the country. With this
proposal, that’s kind of going away,” resident Dan Wells said, adding that
he is not looking forward to the extra traffic.
Also approved was
plattage for Lot 2 of the Coffee Creek Center PUD, Phase C Block 21,
requested by Jeff Brant of Ascend Real Estate Advisors. The recorded plat is
needed in order for the seller to sell the property and the buyers can close
on the deal.
Before any building
is done, the new owners would have to present their plans to the Town, said
Town Engineer Mark O’Dell.
No one from the
audience spoke during the public hearing for the request.
Rezoning on 14th
Street
A preliminary
hearing was given on a petition by the William and Rita Bennett Trust to
rezone 112 South 14th Street from B-3 Business zoning, behind Red Carpet
Smoke Shop, to R-3 Multi-family Residential.
Attorney Terry
Hiestand said the owner wants to have the zoning changed to reflect the use
of the property. A smaller home at the south end of the property is planned
to be taken down and a multi-family home is planned in its place with
multiple living units, he said.
The commission set
the petition for public hearing in May.
Sidewalk
Lastly, the
planners unanimously agreed to extend the sidewalk guarantee for five lots
in the Touch of Green subdivision near Locust St.
O’Dell said the
sidewalk has not been put in even though the subdivision was approved in
2005.
Babcock asked that
the extension be for two years, but planner Jim Kowalski urged cutting it to
one year, in hopes the developer will fix the problem for the people who
live there.
“The (developers)
get all the breaks all the time. Let’s this time give it to the residents,”
Kowalski said to his colleagues.
The extension was
unanimously approved for one year with the planners hoping that this will be
the last time.