By PAULENE POPARAD

A new Grill & Chill Dairy Queen is planned for a renovated site at 552 Indian Boundary Rd., but the same owners of the one at 1249 Broadway say it will remain in business.

The new DQ represents a $1.5 million investment in land and improvements.

Scott Pendleton and Michelle Pendleton are requesting 15 sign variances from the Chesterton Board of Zoning Appeals, which meets Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall, 790 Broadway. Nine signs are for the new DQ and two for Margie's Cafe, where a tenant would share with the Pendletons the former bank/Bert's Bagel's building in Indian Oak Mall.

Thursday's meeting is a preliminary hearing only; if the petition is in order a public hearing will be scheduled.

The couple is requesting a total 503 square feet of signage for the two businesses; 224 is allowed under town code. However, there was 238 square feet of old bank/bagel signage so the petitioners make the case that only 265 square feet of extra signage is being requested.

Being sought is a 22-foot-tall freestanding DQ static reader board to be seen 425 feet away from the Indian Boundary and Indiana 49 intersection to the east. Additional informational, directional and drive-thru signage is planned consistent with the new corporate DQ standards.

Also under preliminary hearing is a request from Craig Jones and Rachael Jones, who seek a use variance and a setback variance related to proposed construction of an approximately 7,000 square-foot automotive shop and offices at the southwest corner of 10th Street and Broadway.

The building will replace a 2,000-square-foot adjacent building utilized by Jones since 1989 for his automotive business, around which he recently purchased additional property. The new shop will include fencing and landscaping.

In a third petition, a continuance of preliminary hearing is being sought by Luke Oil Company in its quest to keep a 70-foot-tall sign to advertise a proposed Starbucks at the site of the former 524 Indian Boundary Rd. Shell station; the coffee giant wants to occupy part of a new commercial building to be built there.

At the Feb. 28 meeting BZA members closely quizzed two Luke Oil vice-presidents why town ordinances should be varied when removing such tall, non-conforming signs is the goal. At the time, Luke representatives said not being able to use the high-rise sign and draw traffic from Indiana 49 would be a deal-breaker and force Starbucks to abandon its plans.

Posted 3/26/2008