Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Final details on LEL 27 acre park donation being hashed out

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By KEVIN NEVERS

A quarter of a century ago, the Lake Erie Land Company (LEL) committed to the donation of 17 acres of park land to the Town of Chesterton, one of the terms of the original 1996 planned unit development ordinance.

A quarter of a century later, LEL is on the verge of formalizing that donation.

As Associate Town Attorney Julie Paulson told the Town Council at its meeting Monday night, “We’re working on the details. A couple of things have come to light, but I think we’re close.”

As it happens, that donation is a precondition of a replatting which LEL is seeking of an approximately four-acre parcel located in the 1st Addition, Phase B, west of Village Point and immediately south of the new Chesterton Family Dental facility. Specifically, LEL wants to cut those four acres into six separate lots, ranging in size from 0.50 acres to 0.72 acres. The idea is to appeal to the emerging market trend for smaller lots and make the property more sellable. Once it’s secured the replatting, LEL will infrastructure the acreage and offer it to potential developers as “shovel-ready.”

But first the park donation, the land for which LEL has identified as a 27-acre parcel on the west side of Dickinson Road south of East Memory Lane. The site includes a portion of Coffee Creek near the area of Pioneer Lumber and Rose Brick.

Members did have a few pointed questions. Jim Ton, R-1st, said that he was under the impression that at least part of the acreage was wetland, and that the 17 acres to which LEL originally committed to donating must be active, not passive, park land.

Paulson herself replied by noting that former park superintendent Bruce Mathias had expressed his interest in acquiring this particular parcel. “LEL is required to give 17 acres,” she said. “This would be 27 acres.”

Member Sharon Darnell, D-4th, on the other hand, after confirming that there’s a vacant house on the property as well as at least one out-building, indicated that she would be altogether opposed to this donation unless LEL agreed to demolish all structures and completely remove the spoils at its own expense. Does the house have a foundation, a basement? Darnell asked.

“There’s a walk-out basement,” LEL rep Keith Sharpe said.

“Well, that’s all going to have to go,” Darnell insisted. “The park donation is a linchpin for what you want to do with the replatting. We’ll graciously accept the land from you, but you have to keep the buildings.”

“I wouldn’t be supportive of this without the condition that all structures be removed,” concurred Ton.

LEL attorney Kevin Warren said that he understands the council’s position. “That’s one of the details we’re working out.”

In the end members voted unanimously to accept the park land donation, contingent on legal’s review and approval of those details.

Chamber Events

In other business, Duneland Chamber of Commerce President Maura Durham appeared before the council to apprise members of the Chamber’s tentative schedule for a pair of annual events.

The Taste of Duneland is currently scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, Durham said, but whether or not it’s actually held then, or at all this year, depends upon the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Durham also noted that, given the town’s official policy requiring mask-wearing and social-distancing at any gathering of 25 or more people in a town park or on other municipal property, the Taste of Duneland “obviously would have to be restructured and changed.”

Also: the Corkscrew & Beer event, originally scheduled for March 14, then postponed to June 20, then postponed again, is now once more on the schedule, for Saturday, Nov. 7. Again, whether the Chamber will be able to hold the festival at all depends on the conditions on the ground, Durham said.

Thanks from Portage PD

Portage Police Chief John Candiano took a moment at the end of the meeting to express his gratitude to Chesterton Police Chief Dave Cincoski and his officers for their much-needed assistance on two recent occasions. The first was at one of the first large-scale demonstrations in Porter County following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn. The second was a disturbance at a Portage skating rink. In neither case did the Portage PD have available manpower to respond adequately, so Candiano called on neighboring departments for help, and Cincoski was happy to be of assistance.

“I want to thank the town, Chief Cincoski, and his officers for their support,” Candiano said.

Wear Masks

Ton also took a moment at the end of the meeting to make a personal plea to Dunelanders to wear masks, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.

“Let’s not make mask wearing a political statement,” Ton said. “Let’s make it a health statement. Let’s make it about being well.”

Plan Commission to meet Thursday on LEL’s replatting petition

The Chesterton Advisory Plan Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the town hall.

All attendees must wear masks and practice social-distancing.

On the agenda: the Lake Erie Land Company’s petition, continued from last month’s meeting, for a replatting of an approximately four-acre parcel located in the 1st Addition of Coffee Creek Center, west of Village Point and immediately south of the new Chesterton Family Dental facility.

Specifically, LEL is seeking to chop those four acres into six separate lots, ranging in size from 0.50 acres to 0.72 acres. As LEL rep Keith Sharpe explained at the planners’ June meeting, the idea is to appeal to the emerging market trend for smaller lots and make the property more sellable. Once it’s secured the replatting, LEL will infrastructure the acreage and offer it to potential developers as “shovel-ready.”

A precondition of the replatting: LEL’s formal donation of at least 17 acres in park land to the Town of Chesterton. At the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, members voted unanimously to accept a donation of 27 acres--located west of Dickinson Road and south of East Memory Lane--contingent on legal’s approval of the details of the donation.

Plat Committee

At the conclusion of the planners’ meeting, probably around 7 p.m., the Plat Committee will hold its own meeting.

 

 

Posted 7/15/2020

 
 
 
 

 

 

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