By VICKI URBANIK

With some stipulations, the Porter County Plan Commission on Wednesday recommended in favor of rezoning land in Pine Township for a new retreat center aimed at uses such as corporate gatherings, family reunions and church outings.

Kim and Ron Vansessen of Chesterton are seeking to rezone 60 acres at Burdick Road and C.R. 650E from RR, Rural-Residential, to P-2, the zoning for parks and recreation.

The Vansessens are proposing to open “Inspiration Wood,” which, when fully built, would consist of 15 cottages, a gathering place, a business office, and a swimming pool and poolhouse. Other amenities planned are walking trails, a large garden, and a 12-seat movie theater in the gathering place.

Attorney Todd Leeth, representing the Vansessens, said there isn’t another retreat center in the region like the one envisioned. “It’s not a hotel. It’s a retreat,” he said.

Leeth said the property contains significant wetlands as well as a heavily wooded area. He said the Vansessens want to preserve the natural beauty of the property, in keeping with their goal to offer a serene getaway for visitors.

“What’s important here is nature -- the seclusion, the quiet,” Leeth said.

Plans call for three types of cottages -- one bedroom, two bedroom, and two bedroom with a loft -- to accommodate different group sizes. If all 15 cottages were at capacity, the maximum number of people at the retreat would be 90, Leeth said.

Several neighboring property owners spoke at Wednesday’s public hearing, mainly to ask questions. One neighbor, Frank Zona, questioned how the cottage development might impact wetlands on his property.

Leeth responded that the Vansessens do not want to negatively impact the wetlands. How the construction will occur will be based on the wetland delineation, which is in its early stages, he said. As for wastewater treatment, tentative plans call for a septic collection system on nearby suitable soils, rather than individual septic, said John McQuestion of Soil Solutions.

Preserving the wetlands was also a concern for plan commission member Herb Read, who noted that the wetlands in this area feed into the Little Calumet River and the nearby Heron Rookery. “What happens here can affect the water and the water quality in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,” he said.

Another concern for the plan commission dealt with reverting to RR zoning in the event the retreat fails.

Although several planners said they would want the RR zoning reinstated, Read, a long-time parkland advocate, said he would prefer keeping the P-2 zoning, since that would be the best way to preserve the wetlands. That prompted a light-hearted moment, when Leeth said he also agrees with the park zoning.

“This is a historic moment,” Read said, alluding to past disagreements between him and Leeth, who often represents developers before the plan commission.

Another concern for the planners dealt with the possibility of large groups of people at the retreat causing a disturbance for the neighborhood, particularly at night. Leeth said a caretaker will reside on the premises. Further, the Vansessens have purchased adjacent property and intend to live next door, so, he said, they have a vested interest in making sure that the retreat remains peaceful.

Plan Commission President Robert Harper, also a county commissioner who will decide the rezoning, echoed several other planners by saying that the retreat could be great for the neighborhood, but only if it is properly planned. However, with a P-2 zoning, the Vansessens would not have to return with their development plans. Harper and several other planners said the county should have some oversight, as they raised concerns about light, noise and a buffer area for the parking.

In response, Leeth agreed to return to the plan commission with the actual plans. He also agreed to eliminate some other uses that would be allowed in a P-2, namely, paintball facilities, sports arena and campgrounds.

Plan Commission member Robert Detert seemed to sum up the plan commission’s feelings. If the land is rezoned to a park, “we want a park.” he said.

The favorable rezoning was unanimously approved, and will now be heard by the commissioners on June 17.

Posted 5/15/2008