DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Regular Meeting
March 14, 2008

M I N U T E S

The regular meeting of the Development Advisory Committee was held on March 14, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in the Porter County Administration Center, 155 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Those members present were Kevin Breitzke, Kelly Cadwell, Julia Martin, Tim Cole, Harvey Nix, Ray Riddell, Paul Graeber, Ray Joseph, Mike Haller.  Also present was Toni Byers.

Case 08-3-4.  Petition of Michael Bates (Colorcraft), 677 W. SR 130, Hobart, seeking developmental review for an addition to an auto body painting business at 677 W. SR 130, in Union Township.  Zoned I-1.  (Sec.2-35N-7W)

Don Bengel stated that he is representing the petitioner in this matter.

Mr. Joseph stated that the following issues were raised at the 3-7-08 DAC hearing:  to verify if this was on well or City water.

Mr. Bengel stated that this subdivision would not have been approved were it not on City Water and sewer.  This is White Oak Conservancy District on the sewer and Indiana American on the water, and this is one of those systems where they each do have a septic tank.

Mr. Joseph stated that they were to show erosion control on the plan.

Mr. Bengel stated that they show silt fence around the area…all around…the only area that’s going to be disturbed is the addition, 60 by 64, and extend the driveway a little bit. The silt fence will run from the PC on the entrance as you come in, up and around the addition and down the sideline, halfway through the existing building.

Mr. Joseph stated that that needs to be updated for the Plan Commission.

Mr. Breitzke stated that he would suggest that they mulch and seed, too.

Mr. Joseph stated that they needed a landscaping plan.

Mr. Bengel stated that he guesses they aren’t required, but he is going to put landscaping along the front.

Mr. Joseph stated that they needed as-builts or current shots on the inlet and pond.

Mr. Breitzke stated that they don’t have those yet.

Mr. Bengel stated that they went out and took more shots around the building and took shots of the ditch along the highway.

Mr. Joseph stated that they just need to have some description on the plat.  They were to consider a sprinkler system and lockbox.

Mr. Bengel stated that he’s not sure about the lockbox, but his security system is tied into both the sheriff’s department and the fire department.   He doesn’t think the sprinkler is required.  He is going to use the building to put his customers’ cars inside at night.

Mr. Joseph stated that they needed details for existing drainage from the pond and pipe inverts, and they have that.

Mr. Bengel stated that Mr. Bates told him that in January and February when they had some very wet days that they had no problems out there and no standing water, except in the pond area. 

Mr. Joseph stated that they were to show the inverts for the existing pipe under the road leading into the pond, and they have that; private road sign and other signage.

Mr. Bengel stated that Mr. Bates said he did not have a stop sign up, but it could be up today, and we need to get a no-outlet, he guesses, but that road was never given a number because the addresses are all off of 130.   He thinks he will have a private drive and stop signs in.

Mr. Joseph stated that he was to check the length and width ratio of the pond.

Mr. Bengel stated that this pond was designed before the ordinance, so he’s not sure…they can’t change what’s there now. They’ve got the pond along Lot 4 and the additional pond in the back of Lot 1.

Mr. Joseph asked if that one pond exists on the Northwest.

Mr. Bengel stated that he doesn’t think the pond was ever put in next to Lot 3.

Mr. Joseph stated that they were to plan for increased security and to keep everything inside.

Mr. Bengel stated that that’s why he is doing this, is for security.   He keeps a pretty nice-looking building.   He asked that they just don’t judge them by Building #4, because he thinks that guy went broke and he’s not sure the building is completed.

Mr. Haller stated that it's complete – they live in it.

Mr. Bengel stated that he doesn’t think there’s any concrete in there.

Mr. Haller stated that he didn’t say there was any concrete.  He was just told that it’s complete and they’re living in it.   He would like to respond to a comment that Mr. Bengel made a minute ago, that they don’t need to re-design the pond because it was built prior to the ordinance being in effect.  Don’t we, by adding onto one of these buildings, change the drainage calculations of such things, so how can the pond…

Mr. Bengel stated that the ponds were designed for 75 percent runoff, and they’re nowhere near that.  Mr. Thompson had asked them when they put leases in, if they were to increase the pond area, and that’s what he did, when he built on the back of his.  

Mr. Haller asked if they have their design release yet.  There might be a problem with the sprinklers.

Mr. Bengel stated that he got it October 22nd and Mr. Haller should have a copy of that.

Mr. Haller stated, yeah, but he doesn’t have a blueprint of  the building.  He doesn’t know what he sent down there.

Mr. Bengel stated that FBI sent it down.

Mr. Haller stated that he needs to know what FBI sent them, because if FBI just sent them the add-on, we’re going to be talking about this later.   He stated that the 12,000 square foot rule has now dropped to 10,000 square feet on this type of occupancy.

Mr. Bengel asked, that has to be sprinkled.

Mr. Haller stated, yes, depending on the type of construction, and the structural is all flammable wood covered with steel.

Mr. Cole stated that he has no problem at all with Colorcraft and Mr. Bates; he guesses he worries more about some of these other places out there.  It seems to him that it would be terrible for Mr. Bates to go to all this trouble to keep it looking clean and neat and well-painted – and it’s a pretty site – and he’s heard from a lot of neighbors what a good guy he’s been and how accommodating, but he does worry about the other people.

Mr. Breitzke stated that he’s concerned about Lot 3.  There is a building with junk piled behind it.  They kind of made a half-hearted attempt to put in and finish the pond up to the North. Does Mr. Bates have any control or interest in Lot 3, that he knows of?

Mr. Bengel stated that he thinks it’s owned by Sweeney’s Towing.  Drainage-wise, it doesn’t matter what’s been done or not done because they’ve had no problems.  Everything seems to work all right.  He’d just like to see Building #4 get sold and finished.

Mr. Breitzke stated that he thinks we need to get an inspector out there to take a look at if we have an issue with compliance on Lot 3 and help clean that up.  He agrees with Mr. Cole that there is some issues about how they are maintaining this.  It’s not a pretty collection of buildings, but it can be really improved and have less of an impact visually.

Issues raised were show erosion control plan; as-builts or current shots on outlet and pond; have inspector check Lot 3 for compliance.

Case 08-3-5.  Petition of Cherry Hill Development, LLC., 196 W. U.S. Hwy 30, Valparaiso, seeking secondary plat review for a major subdivision, Cherry Hill, to be located at 356 N. 250 W., in Center Township.  To contain 117 lots on 48.18 acres.  Zoned R-2.  (Sec.16-35N-6W)

(None of the DAC members received copies of the plans, so there was more of an informal review conducted.)

Attorney Bill Ferngren and Gary Radtke stated that they are representing and accompanied by Bill Weigand, the petitioner in this matter.

Mr. Radtke stated that they submitted on Feb. 21st a letter regarding the submittal – the packet was the construction drawings and the final plat.  Primary plat was approved on July 11th.  He went through the new checklist and they were supposedly grandfathered in from the old subdivision ordinance, but they used the new checklist to go through it.  There were items on there like exterior lighting that they are providing.  The covenants stated that each resident has to have water coming from the Valparaiso water utility.  Drainage Board, on Feb. 11th, approved a revision that they did on the regulated drain, which saved a major storm sewer construction that was discussed when they first started the project.  Since they started, two of the street names got changed because of the issue of conflict. Cherry Hill Lane was a street that ran North and South and East and West.  They changed it to Cherry Hill Lane and Cherry Hill Street, which clarified one item.  Then Sweet Gum Court was switched to Honey Locust Court, because there was a conflict with that.  There were a couple little items on the covenants that were requested.

Mr. Ferngren stated that there were a few items from the new UDO that were not included in the form that he’d prepared.  He revised those and got them to Mr. Joseph last week sometime.

Mr. Radtke stated that they are the performance guarantee, which is actually the bond, it was requested that they add the landscaping into that bond price, which will be about $67,000, landscaping in the right-of-way and the swale areas.  The signage…there were two different items on the signage.  One was in the construction plans, development plans, they wanted a signage plan for the County to put street signs, stop signs, yield signs for the roundabout, and, also, they submitted in this packet the pictures of the subdivision entrance signs.  The last item is that Valparaiso utilities are also providing the wastewater.  They have been working with the utilities on if there will be any bonding required for them.  Right now, as of yesterday, they have verbal approval on all four railroad permits.   Once they get those signed and back to the road companies, they will be able to start that construction.  What they are hoping for, that they will get into the Plan Commission on the April 9th Plan Commission meeting.

Mr. Joseph stated that he doesn’t think anybody received anything – site plans or anything – no one on DAC.

Mr. Radtke stated that he thought they went out of his office; he was gone for a week.

Mr. Breitzke stated that there’s a problem:  We’re compelled to have two hearings prior to and then forward them to the Plan Commission, so, we’re kind of in a spot, because next Friday is Good Friday and we don’t meet.  Then we have one more meeting.

Mr. Ferngren asked, you don’t have one next Friday, but you do have one the following Friday?

Mr. Joseph stated, without receiving any formal documents, this would be more an informal review, if everybody is in agreement with me.     

Mr. Breitzke stated that on the bond, he needs a copy of this, too, the reduction.   We also need the letters from the City of Valparaiso, approval of acceptance for sewer and water.   They still have some grading and seeding and stuff along the extension on 130.  Was that part of Valpo’s project or their’s?

Mr. Weigand stated, Valpo’s.

Mr. Riddell stated that he doesn’t see anything in here for the 250 W. reconstruction.  They still have the final surface coat to go on, but they show that the center line control is done, and he doesn’t see how that’s accomplished.

Mr. Radtke stated that right now, on 250 W., they only have those turning lanes.

Mr. Riddell stated, what he’s talking about, too, is something for the reconstruction where they are taking down that hill.

Mr. Radtke stated that that will be in Phase 2.

Mr. Breitzke asked if he’s staked out any of the lots yet.

Mr. Radtke stated that he put the front stakes in – no irons in.

Mr. Riddell asked if he knows how much time they are talking about between Phase I and Phase II.

Mr. Weigand stated that that depends on lot sales.  He is thinking probably about one year.

Mr. Riddell stated that 250 W. is a safety thing and he thinks he’d like to see it go in as soon as possible.

Issues raised were letters from the City of Valparaiso regarding acceptance for sewer and water.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 a.m.