OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals February 18, 2026 Meeting

County Boards & Commissions — Wednesday, February 18, 2026
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateWednesday, February 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Sure.

0:07

I'd like to call this meeting of the Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals to order Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

0:15

Everyone rise to the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:19

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic.

0:27

Undergone indivisible liberty and justice for all.

0:35

The following is emergency exit announcement in case of an emergency, exit the commissioner's courtroom, proceed to the stairs.

0:42

Go to the second floor and exit the building.

0:44

Do not enter an elevator in an emergency.

0:46

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

0:50

Please silence any cellular phones during this meeting.

0:52

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

1:08

I'll make a motion to approve uh December minutes as presented.

1:12

I'll second motion and a second.

1:13

All those in favor by saying aye.

1:15

Uh aye.

1:16

All those opposed, same sign.

1:18

Steve, you have any communications?

1:20

Uh communications, we need to do the election of officers for the board for this year.

1:25

So we have the full board here.

1:27

Um I don't know if the committee already came up with their selections on who's going to be the president and vice president or general vice chairman.

1:34

Jim and I are on the committee, I believe.

1:35

Okay.

1:36

We talked to the other members, and then they want I think we want to keep it as is.

1:40

Okay, unchanged.

1:42

Yes.

1:42

How is that?

1:43

That is that'll be me and you don't know by now.

1:48

Jimmy is the vice metro vice.

1:51

Uh I just want it for the record.

1:53

For the record.

1:53

Okay.

1:54

Will Jim still be?

1:57

Uh substitute.

1:59

Sub his advice.

2:02

Okay.

2:03

All right.

2:04

Well, that concludes the elections for the evening then.

2:09

What about the motion?

2:10

I would I have a motion to nominate the uh uh the slate.

2:15

Okay.

2:16

All right.

2:16

Somebody somebody make that motion.

2:20

I'll make that motion.

2:22

Nominate the slate.

2:24

Thank you.

2:25

Second.

2:26

I have a motion and a second.

2:27

All those in favor saying aye.

2:29

Aye.

2:30

Aye.

2:30

All those opposed, same sign.

2:33

Now we're duly back in office for another year.

2:36

Okay, so here's the next communication that I probably should have started off with.

2:40

For some people, and not not today, not now, because they're all gone.

2:44

But would you please speak into your microphones?

2:48

Because there are people that have said something about not being able to hear clearly unless you do that.

2:54

So I think they hear me.

2:55

Huh?

2:56

I think they hear me.

2:57

I don't think they want to hear me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████39%
Land Use Planning█████████████14%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - February 18, 2026

The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals met on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, election of officers for the year, and consideration of one variance of use petition. The board approved the petition with a condition requiring demolition of the existing house within 90 days of occupancy of the new house.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved the December 2025 meeting minutes.
  • Elections were held for board officers for 2026. After discussion, the existing slate (president and vice president) was retained without change, and the board unanimously approved the slate.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke for or against the petition.

Discussion Items

  • Petition 26-UV-01 BZA – Cynthia A. Erbert, Owner/Petitioner
    • Request: A variance of use from the Unincorporated Lake County Unified Development Ordinance to allow construction of a second detached house on the same lot at 1606 Belshaw Road, Cedar Creek Township. The owner occupies the existing 160-year-old house and will live in it while the new house is built, then demolish the old one.
    • The petitioner, Cindy Ebert, explained she and her daughter need to stay in the existing home during construction.
    • Board member Steve asked about enforcement to ensure demolition occurs after the new house is occupied. Discussion noted that a 90-day condition after occupancy is standard and that failure to comply would be a violation enforceable by the building department or through legal action. The board decided not to require a surety bond.

Key Outcomes

  • The board approved the variance of use (26-UV-01) with a stipulation that the existing house must be demolished within 90 days after the new house receives a certificate of occupancy. The motion was made and seconded; all members voted in favor. The meeting then adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Sure. I'd like to call this meeting of the Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals to order Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Everyone rise to the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic. Undergone indivisible liberty and justice for all. The following is emergency exit announcement in case of an 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 commission employee will escort or assist you. Please silence any cellular phones during this meeting. If you receive a call during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible at these proceedings. I'll make a motion to approve uh December minutes as presented. I'll second motion and a second. All those in favor by saying aye. Uh aye. All those opposed, same sign. Steve, you have any communications? Uh communications, we need to do the election of officers for the board for this year. So we have the full board here. Um I don't know if the committee already came up with their selections on who's going to be the president and vice president or general vice chairman. Jim and I are on the committee, I believe. Okay. We talked to the other members, and then they want I think we want to keep it as is. Okay, unchanged. Yes. How is that? That is that'll be me and you don't know by now. Jimmy is the vice metro vice. Uh I just want it for the record. For the record. Okay. Will Jim still be? Uh substitute. Sub his advice. Okay. All right. Well, that concludes the elections for the evening then. What about the motion? I would I have a motion to nominate the uh uh the slate. Okay. All right. Somebody somebody make that motion. I'll make that motion. Nominate the slate. Thank you. Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor saying aye. Aye. Aye.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com