Hospital officials are seeking seven variances for the proposed new Porter hospital at Ind. 49 and U.S. 6 in Liberty Township.

The Northwest Indiana Health System, representing Porter hospital, is on the agenda for the Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals’ meeting Wednesday for variances for the new hospital. The Porter County Commissioners have already rezoned the property to Institutional.

Three of the variances requested deal with signage. One would allow a temporary, 300 square foot sign. Another would allow a temporary sign to be 21 feet in height. And the third would allow a temporary sign to remain on the property until the new hospital is open.

Another variance requested would allow parking between the prinicipal structure and the right-of-way of Ind. 49 and U.S. 6. Other variances are to allow the entrance to exceed 40 feet in width, to allow the buffer yard adjoining the property to the west to be less than 25 feet, and to not require striping or curbing of driving lanes.

Another proposed Liberty Township development, Timberland Farms, is also on the BZA’s agenda. Timberland is seeking a variance to allow block lengths exceeding 1,000 feet in three locations, as well as a variance for four lots to reduce the perimeter access requirements from 75 feet to 35 feet.

A few other Duneland cases are also on the BZA’s agenda, including a request by Jeffrey Jirtle for a renewal of a use variance allowing a landscaping and excavating business at 252 W. U.S. 6 and a request by Amy Golembeck for renewal of a use variance for an antique shop at 39E 600N, both in Liberty Township.

The BZA meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the County Administration Center, Valparaiso.

Posted 4/15/2008