Part of the revision to Chesterton’s comprehensive plan is establishing a
design and implementation framework for development of a vibrant, mixed-use,
pedestrian-friendly downtown district.
After extended discussion Wednesday, Chesterton Advisory Plan Commission
members agreed that will include three distinct areas, each with unique
challenges and opportunities.
The sub-districts are:
•The Central Business District bounded by Grant Avenue to the north, Porter
Avenue to the south, Coffee Creek Park to the east and 4th Street to the
west.
•The North Calumet Road District from Indian Boundary Road south to Grant
Avenue.
•The West Broadway Corridor from 5th Street west to 15th Street.
The South Calumet Road Corridor is in the midst of extensive redevelopment
now but is not considered part of the downtown.
Commission and Town Council member Emerson DeLaney said a major Central
Business District sewer separation project is planned for Calumet Road at
Broadway this year and streetscaping could be incorporated or done as a
second phase, possibly using town Redevelopment Commission funds.
Comprehensive plan project consultant A.J.Monroe of Short Elliott
Hendrickson Inc. said that intersection, among other upgrades, needs
peninsulas extended from the curb to shorten the distance for pedestrians to
cross safely.
Monroe also said there should be a renewed focus on Thomas Park at the
intersection. “Other communities are going about condemning property to get
a downtown park and you have one.”
One suggestion is to link access to the park across Calumet Road to Coffee
Creek Park to the east.
Commission attorney Charles Parkinson also serves as president of the
Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce. He said the comprehensive plan
needs to make clear whether its downtown component addresses recommendations
for the historic central area or all three, and whether consistent facade
standards would be required.
Commission member George Stone said while future development along the West
Broadway Corridor likely would be infill in nature, it wouldn’t be bad to
have some similar standards.
Town manager Bernie Doyle said it would be to Chesterton’s benefit to have
some standardization, especially signage. Stone said he enjoys some variety
in signs.
Commission president Fred Owens asked if the chamber prefers to have the
Central Business District boundaries extended out. Monroe said the building
massing and height found in the first blocks out from Calumet and Broadway
work in certain areas but not in others.
What would have been an opportunity to extend the downtown west, DeLaney
noted, ended when the former Chesterton License Bureau building, now
Allegius Credit Union, was not built at the sidewalk like The Flower Cart
built its new store on Calumet at Indiana Avenue.
Monroe observed that along West Broadway there’s an eclectic set of uses and
a mix of buildings both closer to the street and set back from it; along the
east side of North Calumet and the north side of Grant Avenue are homes
close to the sidewalk, he added.
Owens said the town could encourage zero setbacks in downtown districts
where feasible, but Parkinson said when a building is sited away from the
sidewalk it will look like a missing tooth. One test, suggested Parkinson,
is whether the building will serve primarily pedestrian traffic or vehicular
traffic.
That proximity of buildings brings into question where Chesterton’s leg of
the proposed Dunes Kankakee hike/bike trail should be located. Plans show it
along Calumet Road but according to Monroe, “I find that route is not as
easy as it’s made out to be.”
Doyle said there’s no question the Central Business District received
special focus in the comprehensive plan but the town doesn’t want to ignore
the North Calumet and Broadway corridors. Monroe said streetscape projects
would enhance both.
As proposed, gateways to the downtown district would be at Broadway and 15th
Street, Porter Avenue and Calumet, and Indian Boundary Road and Calumet.
It’s anticipated a final draft of the revised comprehensive plan would be
approved by the commission in February and a public hearing set for March
18. Urged Doyle, “Take the time you need; be comfortable with the document.”
Added Owens, “I think we have an excellent jump on this and this meeting
shows we’re on the same page.”
Doyle said he’s asked SEH to prepare some renderings from an aerial
perspective of downtown district possibilities similar to what SEH prepared
for Burns Harbor and the town of Porter last year regarding their
development proposals.
The commission also had in hand Wednesday a list of sign-ordinance changes
proposed by a group of local business owners. It was agreed their proposal
will be discussed at the Jan. 21 commission meeting.
According to Owens, “I like our sign ordinance as it is. There’s some huge
implications on some of the signage requests.” Owens also serves on the town
Board of Zoning Appeals, which hears requests for variances from the sign
regulations.
Welcomed Wednesday was new commission member Jeff Ton.
