The Chesterton
Board of Zoning Appeals will meet by Zoom at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The BZA normally
meets on the fourth Thursday of the month, but this year the fourth Thursday
coincides with Thanksgiving Day.
To participate,
members of the public should call (312) 626-6799. Hit meeting ID 694 647
6245, then hit #. It will then ask for the participant ID. Hit # again.
Phone numbers will be masked for privacy.
The BZA will be
holding three public hearings on Tuesday, the first one on seven requested
variances for the ALDI grocery store being developed on the site of the
former Kmart on Indian Boundary Road:
-- To increase
total square footage of gross surface area of all combined signs to 405
square feet, 285 more square feet than the maximum of 120 permitted by the
Zoning Ordinance.
-- To construct a
monument sign at a height of 11’ 2", 3’ 2” higher than the maximum of eight
feet permitted.
-- To construct a
second monument sign, also at a height of 11’ 2", 3’ 2” higher than
permitted.
-- To permit a
temporary sign during construction measuring 64 square feet, 32 square feet
larger than permitted.
-- To permit a
temporary sign for 30 days after construction, at a height of seven feet
with a total surface area of 64 square feet, one foot taller and 40 square
feet larger than permitted.
-- To permit a
second temporary sign for 30 days after construction, wall-mounted and
measuring 32 square feet, where the Zoning Ordinance does not permit
wall-mounted temporary signs and only temporary signs of 24 square feet, a
variance of eight feet.
-- And to permit a
third temporary sign for 30 days after construction, also wall-mounted and
also measuring 32 square feet.
The second public
hearing will be on the petition of Shaun and Kimberly Connelly, who are
requesting a variance to exceed the 30-percent maximum lot coverage by 9
percent. The Connelleys are seeking to build an in-ground swimming pool and
patio in their backyard at 2701 Quicksilver Drive. “There is plenty of space
for water to shed off in the property and a pool and patio won’t affect
anyone else’s value,” they state in their petition. “The pool would look
incomplete without the surrounding patio.”
The third public
hearing is on the petition of James and Mary Ellen Whitenack, who are
requesting two variances: one to reduce the front-yard setback from the
minimum of 25 feet to 1’ 8", a variance of 23’ 4"; and the other to increase
lot coverage from the maximum of 30 percent to 44 percent, a variance of 14
percent. The Whitenacks want to build a front porch on their home at 317 W.
Indiana Ave. “The petitioner purchased the home in 2010,” according to the
petition. “There is a small stoop in the front entryway of the house. The
stoop is small in nature and not large enough for the family to sit together
and enjoy. The petitioner decided a front porch would be a great project for
his family to relax and sit on to enjoy the Downtown culture. The front
porch would also add to the functionality of the home.”