By KEVIN NEVERS

The paired patio homes in the Springdale planned unit development on 1050N in Crocker will have larger lot coverage than allowed under the Chesterton Zoning Ordinance.

At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council voted 5-0 to approve on its first reading an amendment to the Springdale PUD permitting the larger lot coverage, then 5-0 to approve that amendment on final reading.

The ordinance was introduced at the council’s last meeting, so no suspension of the rules was necessary.

The amendment in question—endorsed by the Advisory Plan Commission by a 5-1 vote—provides for a variance from the Zoning Ordinance which mandates a maximum lot coverage of 30 percent for interior lots and 40 percent for corner lots. Depending on the floor plan of the house and the kind of lot, coverages for specified lots under the amendment will vary from 32.3 percent to 43.6 percent.

Attorney Greg Babcock, representing developers Larry Wright and Don Coker, has said that the amendment would “allow for larger units, smaller yards and less maintenance, and more amenities inside.”

Tax Abatements Renewed

In other business, and at the recommendation of the Tax Abatement Advisory Committee, members renewed three separate tax abatements by 5-0 votes:

•Chester Inc., beginning the ninth year of a 10-year abatement on real property, will pay 90 percent of its property taxes on its building in the Jack Oremus Industrial Complex.

•RCI HV Inc., also beginning the ninth year of a 10-year abatement on personal property, will pay 90 percent of its property taxes on equipment. RCI HV, which reconditions rollers for the steel industry, leases the building in the Jack Oremus Industrial Complex owned by Chester.

•Starin Marketing, beginning the three year of its six-year abatement on real property, will pay 20 percent of its property taxes on its building in the Venturi Business Center.

The Tax Abatement Advisory Committee found all three businesses to be in substantive compliance with the statement of benefits which they each made when originally petitioning the council for their tax abatements.

Grant Applications Authorized

Members also unanimously authorized the filing of three matching grant applications:

•A 50/50 grant for bullet-proof vests, in which the town’s match would be approximately $1,230, Police Chief George Nelson said. Member Dave Cincoski, R-3rd—whose rank in the Chesterton Police Department is Detective Lieutenant—abstained from voting on the motion.

•A 5/95 grant for bunker gear, in which the town’s match would be approximately $3,500, Fire Chief Warren “Skip” Highwood said. Highwood noted that a new set of trousers and a coat for a firefighter now costs around $2,000, and that sum does not include helmet, boots, and gloves.

•A grant for the construction of a walking path, as well as the planting of wetland trees and shrubs, at the detention pond in the northwest corner of Dogwood Park. Park Superintendent Bruce Mathias said that the Park Department would provide the match itself with $2,000 from its budget and $2,000 of in-kind labor.

Petition

Members voted 5-0 to take under advisement the petition of Ogden Miller of 1585 S. 11th St., who asked the council to either donate or sell a sliver of irregularly shaped land which the town owns immediately adjacent to his property.

Miller told the council that he wants to subdivide his lot but that without the sliver of land the new lot would be unbuildable as it would have no access to a public right of way. With the sliver, the new lot would have access to Chestnut Street, he said.

Town Engineer Mark O’Dell advised the council that he can see no reason for the town to retain that piece of property.

Posted 3/25/2008