Latest news with #Jabo
Chicago Tribune
03-08-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County moves to define ‘barndominium' housing category
In a move not unfriendly to barndominiums, but designed to help them better coexist with more traditional forms of housing, the Porter County Plan Commission voted unanimously Wednesday evening to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners that it pass a resolution better defining the housing category and how it may be situated on a property. 'As a principal, we don't object to these,' said Porter County Director of Development & Storm Water Management Mike Jabo. 'They can be quite attractive, but they can also be quite large.' He gave a presentation that included artist renderings of a variety of barndominiums, both small and large, and started off by dashing the fallacy that they are pole barns. 'That's false too,' Jabo said. 'It can be metal. It can be stone. It can be wood. 'We're trying to compare these things with the footprint they consume,' he added. 'The UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) is very silent on these kind of structures.' Porter County Building Commissioner Mike Haller said the popularity of barndominiums rises and falls with the state of the economy. He said he tends to field calls from young people looking to build housing for less, but in the end the finished product rarely costs less than traditional housing. 'They're very nice. They're very safe,' he told the commission. Jabo and Haller said Porter County has only approved around seven barndominiums so far. Under the proposed ordinance chapters 2, 5, and 12 of the UDO would be amended to give guidelines on barndominiums in the General Agriculture (A1), Prime Agriculture (A2), and Rural Residential (RR) districts in unincorporated Porter County. After considerable discussion, during which the eight plan commission members present were each given the opportunity to raise questions, concerns, and comments, it was agreed to recommend the proposed ordinance in its draft form. Porter County Attorney Scott McClure stressed that the label of barndominium was technically unimportant as the percentage of the structure given over to storage was the true classifying characteristic. The proposed ordinance reads, 'The attached non-residential utility space of the structure that is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total structure footprint is considered to be a Barndominium.' It also explains that the residential portion of the barndominim is typically characterized by large, open space with high ceilings. Minimum setbacks in the A1, A2, and RR districts will be 100 feet at the front, sides, and rear, while barndominiums adjacent to residential districts R1, R2, R3, R4, or RL will have setback requirements of 200 feet on adjacent sides of the structure. 'The farther away you are from something, the shorter it looks,' Jabo explained. Minimum lot size is as set forth in districts A1 and A2 and a minimum of five acres in RR districts. Minimum lot width as proposed is 250 feet and maximum height as proposed is 35 feet with the typical exceptions for agriculture districts. The non-residential utility space portion of the structure may not exceed 75% of the total footprint and garage or indoor vehicle parking is not included in the residential portion of the calculation. Plan Commission members were concerned with a few issues: aesthetics, how modifications to barndominiums or even existing traditional residential structures might surpass the 50% limit, and residents attempting to run businesses out of barndominiums. 'The aesthetics was a question,' said Board of Commissioners Vice President Ed Morales, R-South, who sits on the Plan Commission, 'but with the 100 ft. setback I think it's a good first step.' 'I like the 50/50,' added Plan Commission President Rick Burns of the living to storage ratio. 'I don't think we should go over 50%.' Member Pamela Mishler-Fish was concerned that as barndomiums changed hands they might become appealing to those looking to run businesses where they live. 'It could be a totally different situation than what it started out as,' she said. Fellow commission member Craig Kenworthy was skeptical on that front. 'How do you tell somebody, 'You can't run a business'? That gets really muddy to me.' Haller said nine times out of 10, people running businesses do so from a separate structure. 'I probably know of one that's attached to the house,' he said. Commission member Luther Williams asked if a homeowner could house horses in a barndominium and McClure confirmed that was an acceptable use. The proposed ordinance and the commission's recommendation for approval now moves on to the Board of Commissioners for consideration.
Chicago Tribune
24-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
A span's saga as money, timing and salmon pose challenges
The saga of the closed North Mineral Springs Road bridge in Porter grinds on, with unusual obstacles like how construction of the new span may have to pause for months to protect salmon in the Little Calumet River. The bid opening for the project has been moved back to mid-September, said Michael Jabo, director of the Porter County Department of Development and Stormwater Management. Porter County had originally planned to bid the project in May and then delayed it until this month. 'Oh wow. It just keeps moving back and meanwhile, the businesses back there keep suffering,' said Michael Barry, Porter's development director/building superintendent. The businesses that Barry is referring to are in the Spring House complex that includes an inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. The delay in replacing the bridge cuts off easy access to the complex from U.S. 20, stretching into the next summer season. That would mean a third summer in a row affected by the closed bridge. Those wanting to access the complex can take Beam Street to North Mineral Springs Road. Barry said they have tried to help by posting detour signs on U.S. 20, but it's hard to attract visitors to the Indiana Dunes parks who are unfamiliar with local roads. From the start, the North Mineral Springs Road bridge has been a challenge since it suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, after an inspection revealed the structure to be unsafe because of deteriorating beams. The Porter County government hadn't planned to replace the bridge until 2026 or 2027. To speed the process, the county decided to forego federal funding and finance the project by itself. Jabo won't say how much he expects the bridge will cost, but it will be millions of dollars. Jabo said other important preparation work for the bridge has proceeded, such as obtaining right-of-way and architectural design. The new bridge will be at a higher elevation above the river. Then there is the key environmental issue involving the movements of Coho and Chinook Salmon between July and November. 'There are windows of time that we cannot be working in the channel, which is the Little Calumet River,' Jabo said. Jabo said they are hoping to obtain a waiver from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that will allow for more construction flexibility. If the contract is awarded in September, demolition work could possibly start by the year's end. It's hoped that construction would be ready to proceed in the spring, Jabo said.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Construction bids delayed until July for replacing Porter bridge
The bid opening for a new North Mineral Springs Road Bridge in Porter has been delayed until July, and the challenges might include how construction crews will have to work around the presence of the Coho and Chinook Salmon in the Little Calumet River's East Branch. The bridge just south of U.S. 20 suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, when an inspection discovered deteriorating steel beams that made the structure unsafe. Porter County had originally planned to replace the bridge in 2026 or 2027. There was no money available to do an emergency replacement of the span. To expedite the project, the county had to finance the project on its own because requirements connected with federal funds could delay the project even more. The bid opening had to be pushed back from May to July 15, because right-of-way had to be purchased from three property owners near the bridge, said Mike Jabo, director of the Porter County Department of Development and Stormwater Management. The bridge's design will be different with the deck set at a higher level over the river. Jabo said the new bridge will cost 'a significant amount of money.' He didn't want to release an estimate before the bids were submitted. If all goes well, the bridge is projected to open around Memorial Day next year — May 29, 2026. Meanwhile, the closure will continue to have the biggest impact on the Spring House Inn complex, which is south of the bridge on North Mineral Springs Road. The complex includes an inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. Vishal Patel, the owner, has said the restaurant has lost 25% of its revenue because of the closure. 'We have (detour) signs up everywhere, but it doesn't seem to do enough,' said Michael Barry, Porter's development director/building superintendent. The Spring House Inn complex can be accessed from Beam Street off U.S. 20 to N. Mineral Springs Road. Patel has said he believes that although there are detour signs on U.S. 20, visitors to the Indiana Dunes National and State Parks speed past because they are unfamiliar with the local roads. Another replacement issue could be the presence and movement of the Coho and Chinook Salmon in the Little Calumet River's East Branch. Porter County has to obtain permission from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for an exception to work in the river where the salmon are present from July 15 to Nov. 30. Jabo said they will have to abide by the rules. Barry said the bridge construction could still proceed above the water. The construction will start with the demolition of the old bridge and then building a retaining wall.
Chicago Tribune
26-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County plans May 13 town hall on data centers proposed for Union Township
Porter County officials gave an overview at Tuesday's Board of Commissioners meeting of what residents should expect from next month's town hall on the proposed data centers in Wheeler. Mike Jabo, Porter County director of development and stormwater management, planned to release the town hall structure via the media well before the May 13 date, but the crowd at the meeting spoke out against the centers for the second meeting in a row and requested the plan as did Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center. Jabo explained that under the county's unified development ordinance, a neighborhood meeting is an optional step in the petition process. 'We feel very strongly, with a project of this size and scope, a neighborhood meeting is important,' he said. The town hall will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at the Porter County Expo Center and will be hosted by the Porter County Plan Commission. It is the body that will hear the formal petition from AXPK, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the property owners who would transfer ownership upon adoption of the ordinances. Jabo explained that the format will be similar to the town hall that was held at the Expo Center several years ago regarding a proposed solar farm in Malden. A dais seating the plan commission and its staff will head the room and a table will be set up for AXPK as presenter. There will be sign-in sheets for members of the public who wish to speak. While formally it will not be a question-and-answer format, with the petitioner expected to respond, Jabo and Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, said it is an opportunity for AXPK to hear all the questions and concerns of the public, and to come prepared to answer them at the first public hearing held by the plan commission at a later date. 'They can pose questions, yes,' Jabo said of the public at the town hall. 'The thing is so huge, there will be lots and lots and lots of questions.' The areas in question are currently zoned rural residential. The plan commission will formally hear the petition and make either a favorable or unfavorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, who would need to pass ordinances to amend the county's UDO approving a planned unit development. The proposed projects are being called Jeremiah A and Jeremiah B. Jeremiah A is proposed for a 351.85-acre parcel at the northeast corner of County Road W 450 N and County Road N 750 W owned by John Loxas of Hammond. Jeremiah B is proposed for 434.46 acres owned by Johnson Sunnybrook Farm, LLC and Ceres Cedar Creek Farm, LLC, of Hobart, at the southeast corner of W 450 N and N 650 W due north of Union Township Middle and High Schools. During the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting several people, including some who spoke at the April 1 meeting, again expressed concern over the petition. 'What keeps us up at night is not knowing what that process is,' said Amy Ketchum. She asked officials to walk the audience through the petition approval process. Jabo said it's a combination of confirming the petitioner has met Indiana Code and Porter County's UDO. First, he said the plan commission will hold a public hearing during which the public can make comments that the plan commission must address. At that point, it can vote to make a recommendation for or against the application or it can continue the meeting. Once the plan commission has made a recommendation one way or the other, the Board of Commissioners will have up to two meetings. Commissioners can approve or deny the request at the first meeting. Officials can't say how long the process will take. 'The answer is we don't know,' said Porter County Attorney Scott McClure. 'Mr. Jabo's department needs to determine when the application is completed. That sets the timeline in motion.' Ketchum looked up from her phone and told the board about breaking news from Kosciusko County. 'While we've been sitting here, that county denied it. They considered it heavy industrial.' 'I actually know the commissioners there, so guess who I'm calling?' Biggs replied. It's the industrial aspect that has protesters most concerned as Union Township school children would be separated from the southerly proposed site by a railroad track. Union Township retired pediatric nurse Cheryl Johnson mentioned extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and studies showing their potential link to childhood leukemia. 'I have tagged the toes of little children,' she said. 'Have you seen a child die of leukemia?' One young mother, who asked to be identified only as Jennifer S., cried through her entire statement, speaking of her two kids, one of whom is five. 'She's going to be there for 13 years,' she said of her daughter's school career. 'She's going to get a full dose.' Opponents of the centers are organizing swiftly. Yard signs have been distributed for weeks. An informational meeting for people to ask questions and get involved is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Wheeler High School, Door D.
Chicago Tribune
30-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Proposed Porter County subdivision in Center Township on hold amid traffic concerns
Amid concerns about traffic impacts on nearby subdivisions, the 76-lot Scianna subdivision has been put on hold for a month by the Porter County Plan Commission. Havyn Holdings, developer of the subdivision to be built on the east side of County Road 100 West between Indiana 2 and Carlisle Lane in southern Center Township, agreed to the delay at Wednesday's Plan Commission meeting so a traffic study could be conducted. Residents of Tuscany subdivision, immediately east of Scianna, expressed concerns about cars from Scianna traveling through their subdivision to go to Heavilin Elementary School. Connecting sidewalks between the two subdivisions would be fine, they said; they just don't want vehicular traffic. The Plan Commission rejected the developer's request not to build sidewalks along 100 West. Havyn had argued that the sidewalk would connect to adjacent properties that also don't have sidewalks. 'As silly as it might look now, it might not look that way 15 to 20 years from now,' said County Council member Ronald 'Red' Stone, who sits on the Plan Commission. As parents drop off and pick up kids at Heavilin, vehicles back up onto 100 West, residents said. 'If all those kids in that one subdivision go to Heavilin School, there's going to be a traffic jam,' resident Dorothy Krause said. Mike Jabo, executive director of the Department of Development & Storm Water Management, recommended putting a pedestrian-activated flasher to cross the road safely at 100 West. The construction of Heavilin Elementary changed the traffic dynamics in that area, County Commissioner Ed Morales, who sits on the Plan Commission, said. 'I'm not satisfied with the safety of this.' Some residents, along with Plan Commission member Craig Kenworthy, asked about stormwater drainage from the subdivision. , who lives in Tuscany subdivision, showed pictures of flooding behind homes in his subdivision and wanted to make sure it isn't worsened by construction of Scianna. He was assured that wouldn't be the case. In other action, the commission denied a request to vacate an easement between two lots on Grandview Avenue in the Valparaiso lakes area. Brenda Deal, who wants to sell her house there, learned her garage and shed might be encroaching on the right of way, based on GIS maps. The 1914 plat anticipated a road or alley that was never built. It wouldn't make sense to do so now because it wouldn't connect to anything. But Jabo said there might be a water main on that right of way, based on an old map, so the utility wants to have access to it if it does exist. Rather than having to move the buildings, Jabo suggested determining whether that 8-inch water main actually exists and, if it does, propose an encroachment agreement for the Board of Commissioners to approve since it's technically public property. 'It's the burden of the homeowner that they know their property lines that their house is built on,' Jabo said, which explains why the prospective buyer wants the issue clarified before the 1989 house is sold.
