The proposed 146-home Heirloom subdivision has gotten zoning approval from the Porter County Commissioners, despite one commissioner's attempt to delay a decision. The commissioners voted two-to-one Tuesday to rezone an 80-acre property near county roads 325 East and 500 North for medium density single-family residential development.
Commissioner Jim Biggs cast the opposing vote, citing concerns about the county government's ability to handle that amount of density, despite its proximity to Valparaiso. "If those people who live out in that township wanted to live in the city of Valpo, they would be living in the city of Valpo. If they wanted the density, they'd be living around the density. But that's not what they want. I've got over 300 residents telling me not to do this. I've got one petitioner asking me to do it. To me, it's a no-brainer. I know who I work for," Biggs said.
Biggs first asked to delay the vote, saying he wanted to give the developer a chance to meet with local school officials. But the commissioners' next regular meeting in August would have been too late, since the rezoning would have automatically taken effect 90 days after the plan commission issued its recommendation in April.
Even with the rezoning, the proposed subdivision still has to go through a lengthy plat approval process, according to Development & Storm Water Director Bob Thompson. "They are going to have to develop engineering plans. Those engineering plans would have to show the roads, storm water, other engineering aspects, that they meet our construction standards, and they would also have to go through a planning review," Thompson explained.
If approved, it could still be a few years before any new homes are built.
