OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Plan Commission Meeting - October 15, 2025

County Boards & Commissions — Wednesday, October 15, 2025
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateWednesday, October 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

Call the word Plan Commission meeting Wednesday, October 15th and 530.

0:23

Stand from the Pledge of Allegiance to the Fly of the United States of America.

0:28

And to the remote for which stands under God.

0:42

The following is the emergency exit announcement.

0:44

Case with emergency, exit the commissioner's courtroom, proceed to the stairs, go to the second floor and exit the building.

0:49

Do not enter an elevator in an emergency.

0:52

If you require assistance, a plan commit plan commission play will escort or assist you.

0:56

Please silence any cell phones during this meeting.

0:59

If you receive a call during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible to these proceedings.

1:05

Okay.

1:06

Record of those present?

1:08

Yes.

1:11

Um I guess.

1:13

Sure.

1:14

Yeah, go ahead.

1:14

Put it on record.

1:16

Randy Miner?

1:17

Present.

1:17

Rebecca Coats.

1:19

Christina Miller.

1:21

Cliff again?

1:23

Present.

1:24

Jim Metro.

1:25

Ken Houston?

1:27

Here.

1:27

Paul Hanson?

1:28

Here.

1:32

Jerry Tippy?

1:33

Here.

1:33

Bill X.

1:36

Well, I'm here as proxy for it.

1:38

So communications?

1:42

Well, no communication of anything that the only communication I have, and many of you probably already know, is that on October 8th, because the town of St.

1:52

John's annexation was such a big issue, the town council decided to terminate their annexation proceedings without second reading.

2:01

It was on the agenda as a denial.

2:04

But Christian Jorgensen came up and said the proper way to handle it was by terminating the annexation proceeding, which they did.

2:11

They also released the water rights and easement agreement that they have in a separate motion.

2:17

So to bring you up to date, that's what happened with respect to that.

2:21

So I think it's a dead issue for now.

2:25

That's really the only communication I have for you, Mr.

2:28

Chairman.

2:29

Okay, thank you.

2:34

Pledge of the board.

2:36

Motion to approve.

2:38

Second.

2:42

Are there any?

2:43

Is there any discussion?

2:45

Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

2:48

Aye.

2:49

Aye.

2:49

Any opposed?

2:50

No passes 5-0.

2:53

No old business and new business.

2:56

Uh really there is no new business, so I guess we jump right to our study.

3:00

Two study sessions for the sounds good.

3:02

Under study sessions, item number one, petition number 25-shere five Shane R.

3:08

Bottma is the owner petitioner.

3:10

Properties located approximately three tenths of a mile west of 185th, south of West 185th Avenue on the east side of White Oak Street, also known as 18759 White Oak Street in West Creek Township.

3:21

The request is a study session pursuant to Title 154-17-100.

3:26

Special exceptions, Chapter E, pre-application meeting and study sessions for the purpose of a pond.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Land Use Planning██████████████16%
Procedural██████████████15%
Public Comment████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management█████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Plan Commission Meeting - October 15, 2025

The Lake County Plan Commission convened on October 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included a communications update on the terminated St. John annexation, two study sessions, staff-approved site development plans, and public comment.

Communications

  • Randy Miner reported that on October 8, 2025, the Town of St. John town council voted to terminate their annexation proceedings without a second reading, and also released the associated water rights and easement agreement. He stated the issue is now "a dead issue for now."

Minutes Approval

  • The minutes of the previous meeting were approved unanimously (5-0).

Study Session 1: 25-SS-05 PC – Pond at 18759 White Oak Street, West Creek Township

  • Petitioner: Shane R. Botma, Owner
  • Request: Study session for a special exception to permit a pond that has already been excavated (dug for approximately 1.5 years).
  • Discussion: Botma explained that the pond was created to address stormwater flooding behind his horse barn and onto a neighbor's property. He stated he was unaware a permit was required and expressed willingness to comply. Commission members asked about engineering, as-built plans, and whether the pond is retention (holds water year-round). Botma confirmed it retains water continuously.
  • Outcome: The Commission directed Botma to file a formal application for a special exception for the pond. Staff noted that an engineer will need to provide elevations and reverse-engineer the design. No vote was taken; this was a study session.

Study Session 2: 25-SS-06 PC – Rezoning at 14460 Grand Boulevard, Winfield Township

  • Petitioner: Matthew Pochron, Owner
  • Request: Study session for a rezoning from A-1 (Agricultural) to B-2 (Rural Business) to allow trailer rentals on a portion of a 9-acre parcel.
  • Discussion: Matt Pochron and his father described the business: renting trailers to small businesses and individuals, supporting local events, and donating to disaster relief. They proposed rezoning only 2 acres. Commission members raised concerns about:
    • Proximity to the Korean War Memorial and need for buffering.
    • Potential long-term impact of creating a business corridor along State Road 2.
    • The difficulty of limiting future uses if the property is rezoned B-2.
    • The fact that a shipping container is used as an office, indicating active business operations.
  • Commissioner Paul Hanson suggested exploring a variance of use or special exception that would run with the petitioner, not the land, to prevent broader commercial development. Attorney Christian Jorgensen noted that a variance of use is permissible but not typical. Commissioner Jim Metro requested staff and the attorney investigate options and report back.
  • Outcome: The study session was continued to the November 19, 2025 meeting (same time) to allow staff to research the feasibility of a use variance or other restrictions. No formal action was taken.

Site Development Plans Approved by Staff

  • 25-SDP-19 PC: Verizon Wireless communications tower modification at 4900 Chase Street, Calumet Township.
  • 25-SDP-20 PC: Pilot Travel Centers – installation of EV chargers, electrical equipment, and canopies at 3231 E. 181st Avenue, Eagle Creek Township.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mr. Hine (local resident) expressed strong opposition to the trailer rental business proposed in Study Session 2. He claimed the business previously stored 50 trailers and a NIPSCO bucket truck, creating an unsightly "junkyard." He raised safety concerns about trailers parked on a narrow road, stated that the Korean War Memorial advocates would oppose it, and noted that a future bike trail could be negatively impacted. He characterized the proposed rezoning as spot zoning and urged the petitioner to rent commercial space elsewhere.

Key Outcomes

  • Study Session 1: The applicant was directed to file for a special exception for the pond. No vote taken.
  • Study Session 2: Continued to November 19, 2025; staff to investigate use variance or special exception options to limit future commercial expansion.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m. (motion and second; all in favor).

Meeting Transcript

Call the word Plan Commission meeting Wednesday, October 15th and 530. Stand from the Pledge of Allegiance to the Fly of the United States of America. And to the remote for which stands under God. The following is the emergency exit announcement. Case with emergency, exit the commissioner's courtroom, proceed to the stairs, go to the second floor and exit the building. Do not enter an elevator in an emergency. If you require assistance, a plan commit plan commission play will escort or assist you. Please silence any cell phones during this meeting. If you receive a call during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible to these proceedings. Okay. Record of those present? Yes. Um I guess. Sure. Yeah, go ahead. Put it on record. Randy Miner? Present. Rebecca Coats. Christina Miller. Cliff again? Present. Jim Metro. Ken Houston? Here. Paul Hanson? Here. Jerry Tippy? Here. Bill X. Well, I'm here as proxy for it. So communications? Well, no communication of anything that the only communication I have, and many of you probably already know, is that on October 8th, because the town of St. John's annexation was such a big issue, the town council decided to terminate their annexation proceedings without second reading. It was on the agenda as a denial. But Christian Jorgensen came up and said the proper way to handle it was by terminating the annexation proceeding, which they did. They also released the water rights and easement agreement that they have in a separate motion. So to bring you up to date, that's what happened with respect to that. So I think it's a dead issue for now. That's really the only communication I have for you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, thank you. Pledge of the board. Motion to approve. Second. Are there any? Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye.

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