OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County BZA Meeting: June 17, 2026 - Three Zoning Petitions Approved

County Boards & CommissionsWednesday, June 17, 2026
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateWednesday, June 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Motion quite chair.

0:07

Yes, make a motion to uh accept them.

0:10

I have a motion.

0:11

Do I have a second?

0:13

Second.

0:14

All those in favor by saying aye.

0:16

Aye.

0:17

Anything on communications, Steve?

0:19

I do not have anything under communications this evening.

0:23

Okay, we start first item on old business.

0:26

Old business letter number one, petition number 26-se 03.

0:30

Minerva Moys on a petitioner.

0:32

The property is located approximately eight tenths of miles south of West 197th Avenue on the east side of State Line Road at 20407, State Line Road in West Creek Township.

0:41

Request is a special exception from the uninformated county unified development ordinance, title 154.

0:46

Article 2, agricultural residential districts, chapter 20, principal uses A, Agriculture and Residential District News Table 2-2, Agriculture and Residential District use regulations, agritourism permitted by an A in an A1 agricultural zone by special exception.

1:03

Purposes to law on agro tourism aggregatement use.

1:09

Thank you, Mr.

1:10

Chairman.

1:10

Thank you, Steve.

1:11

Nathan Biss here on behalf of the owner petitioner, Minerva Moya.

1:16

Here tonight to seek a special exception approval to allow agri-tourism, aggregate uses.

1:23

I don't want to be complicitous and redundant, but we do need to put this onto the record earlier this evening at the Plant Commission.

1:29

There was a favorable recommendation.

1:32

The property that we're here to discuss is located west of Lowell near the state line with Illinois.

1:38

On the first page of the packet that I've handed before you at the very top is just an overview of the 20 acres that's zoned A1.

1:45

And below is a drawback and aerial overview that showcases other than the properties right across the street.

1:52

The nearest Indiana residential property that's located in proximity to this from the far right edge of the arena is a little over 2200 square feet when I went on to the GIS.

2:04

If we turn to the second page, it was interesting, kind of a step back in time.

2:08

This property starting back in 1985 had approval to allow uh raising, breeding, training, and conducting horse shows.

2:17

And that was originally what it was approved for dating back to 1985.

2:23

In about 2003, 2004, my clients purchased the property.

2:27

At that time, they submitted application to enlarge the arena that was approved with the Lake County Building Department.

2:34

They continued a wide variety of operations until 2010, at which time they conducted a pretty major rodeo.

2:40

Cars are parked in the street.

2:42

It went late.

2:43

There was a citation that led to on pages three and four mediation settlement agreement that was reached with the Lake County Plan Commission in 2012, 2013, and recorded against the property.

2:55

From there forward, my clients uh conducted rodeos throughout the spring, summer, and fall months.

3:01

And then last uh summer, it's my understanding that uh Mr.

3:05

Neemeyer received a concern about music, was brought to Ned's attention, and that started the process late last fall, where my client came before uh members uh inside the staff and said, What is it going to take to conduct this property within the new UDO?

3:23

Interestingly, and I shared this uh about an hour or so ago when I was in law school back in 2008, 910.

3:29

Agri-tourism was not one of the words that was part of our equation.

3:33

It now is part of your new UDO, and it's something that candidly want to encourage, but recognizing that it is new and unique.

3:42

It's a special exception which requires, I think, special scrutiny to be applied, recognizing your engaging now, not just tractors, not just cows, not just horses, but a wide variety of things and just regular agricultural zones.

3:56

So, what is it that is being promoted?

3:58

If you turn to page five, these are some pictures from just this last year of what goes on at the arena.

4:05

And it's really exciting.

4:06

You can see on the top page of five just the quality of the structure.

4:10

This has been vetted, this has been approved, this has been inspected by the Lake County Building Department.

4:17

You can also then see bottom right of page five, it encompasses a wide variety of ages from H3 to H90 are the riders.

4:26

Then turning again to page six.

4:28

You can see again just the vantage point of looking off to the east back side of the property, which is where cars are parked, and again the um array of ages of persons that are present as well as the types of horses and such of what an event would look like.

4:44

Recognizing that this is new, recognizing that this is unique, recognizing we have a 30-year history of aggravatment affecting the area.

5:00

What I've suggested and what was recommended by the plant commission is the attached recorded commitment restrictions that are before you on pages seven and eight.

5:05

Those restrictions define what is rodeo, what can be allowed, which is equestrian, horse riding and shows, bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, live music.

5:15

Number four, the agreement with the plant commissioner recommendation was that no more than six times per month.

5:21

I've got that because there's four weekends in a month.

5:23

Some days you might go Friday, maybe Saturday, maybe Sunday.

5:27

For example, you've got the 4th of July coming up.

5:29

That might be a really big one, so to speak.

5:32

And that's restricted from April through October.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Licensing Procedures█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████15%
Public Safety██████8%
Community Engagement████6%
Procedural████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting Summary

The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM to consider three petitions: one special exception for agritourism and two variances for residential structures. All three petitions received unanimous approval from the board.

Old Business

  • 26-SE-03 BZA – Minerva Moya, Owner/Petitioner (Special Exception for Agritourism): The property, located at 20407 State Line Road in West Creek Township, sought a special exception to allow agritourism-agritainment uses in an A-1 (Agricultural) zone. The petitioner, represented by Nathan Biss, presented a 30-year history of equestrian and rodeo events on the property, which previously operated under a 2012/2013 mediation settlement agreement. The Plan Commission had recommended approval with 14 conditions, including a limit of no more than six events per month from April through October, no live music after 8:00 PM, no parking on public roadways, and requirements for security, noise compliance, and coordination with the Lowell fire chief. The board clarified its jurisdiction is limited to land use, not alcohol permits or enforcement. Two members of the public spoke against the petition: one incorporated prior testimony from the Plan Commission, and another argued that six events per month is "really excessive" and requested an earlier end time (sunset). The board approved the petition with all conditions recommended by the Plan Commission (including items 13 and 14). Vote: Unanimous (all aye).

New Business

  • 26-V-11 BZA – Mark L. Caruso, Owner/Petitioner (Variance for Detached Garage): The property at 8902 Edison Street in St. John Township sought a variance to allow a detached garage in the side yard instead of the rear yard only. The petitioner explained that septic systems in the back prevent placement there, and he desired additional covered parking. The board noted the garage meets all other requirements (square footage, height) and that the lot is long, making the side-yard placement reasonable. No public comments. Vote: Unanimous (all aye).

  • 26-V-12 BZA – Robert Stiegel, Owner/Petitioner (Variance for Building Setback): The property at 15008 W. 150th Lane in Cedar Creek Township requested a variance to allow a 26-foot setback (instead of the required 30-foot) for an addition to an existing residence. The petitioner, Cindy Sagunski Stiegel, presented photos and plans showing a garage addition that would encroach four feet into the required setback. She emphasized the addition would enhance property values and not obstruct views. No public comments. Vote: Unanimous (all aye).

Key Outcomes

  • All three petitions were approved without opposition.
  • The BZA adopted the Plan Commission's conditions for the agritourism special exception, including the 14-item commitment list.
  • The board adjourned immediately after the final vote.

Meeting Transcript

Motion quite chair. Yes, make a motion to uh accept them. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor by saying aye. Aye. Anything on communications, Steve? I do not have anything under communications this evening. Okay, we start first item on old business. Old business letter number one, petition number 26-se 03. Minerva Moys on a petitioner. The property is located approximately eight tenths of miles south of West 197th Avenue on the east side of State Line Road at 20407, State Line Road in West Creek Township. Request is a special exception from the uninformated county unified development ordinance, title 154. Article 2, agricultural residential districts, chapter 20, principal uses A, Agriculture and Residential District News Table 2-2, Agriculture and Residential District use regulations, agritourism permitted by an A in an A1 agricultural zone by special exception. Purposes to law on agro tourism aggregatement use. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Steve. Nathan Biss here on behalf of the owner petitioner, Minerva Moya. Here tonight to seek a special exception approval to allow agri-tourism, aggregate uses. I don't want to be complicitous and redundant, but we do need to put this onto the record earlier this evening at the Plant Commission. There was a favorable recommendation. The property that we're here to discuss is located west of Lowell near the state line with Illinois. On the first page of the packet that I've handed before you at the very top is just an overview of the 20 acres that's zoned A1. And below is a drawback and aerial overview that showcases other than the properties right across the street. The nearest Indiana residential property that's located in proximity to this from the far right edge of the arena is a little over 2200 square feet when I went on to the GIS. If we turn to the second page, it was interesting, kind of a step back in time. This property starting back in 1985 had approval to allow uh raising, breeding, training, and conducting horse shows. And that was originally what it was approved for dating back to 1985. In about 2003, 2004, my clients purchased the property. At that time, they submitted application to enlarge the arena that was approved with the Lake County Building Department. They continued a wide variety of operations until 2010, at which time they conducted a pretty major rodeo. Cars are parked in the street. It went late. There was a citation that led to on pages three and four mediation settlement agreement that was reached with the Lake County Plan Commission in 2012, 2013, and recorded against the property. From there forward, my clients uh conducted rodeos throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. And then last uh summer, it's my understanding that uh Mr. Neemeyer received a concern about music, was brought to Ned's attention, and that started the process late last fall, where my client came before uh members uh inside the staff and said, What is it going to take to conduct this property within the new UDO? Interestingly, and I shared this uh about an hour or so ago when I was in law school back in 2008, 910. Agri-tourism was not one of the words that was part of our equation. It now is part of your new UDO, and it's something that candidly want to encourage, but recognizing that it is new and unique. It's a special exception which requires, I think, special scrutiny to be applied, recognizing your engaging now, not just tractors, not just cows, not just horses, but a wide variety of things and just regular agricultural zones. So, what is it that is being promoted? If you turn to page five, these are some pictures from just this last year of what goes on at the arena. And it's really exciting. You can see on the top page of five just the quality of the structure. This has been vetted, this has been approved, this has been inspected by the Lake County Building Department. You can also then see bottom right of page five, it encompasses a wide variety of ages from H3 to H90 are the riders. Then turning again to page six.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com