Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - August 19, 2026

The Lake County Board of Zoning Appeals met on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an emergency exit announcement. Minutes from the July meeting were approved unanimously. Four new business items were considered: a special exception for a two-unit house, a special exception for solid fill, an extension for a solar farm, and a variance of use for an accessory building before a primary residence.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of July Minutes: A motion to approve the July minutes as read was made, seconded, and passed unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 1 (Two-Unit House): Two neighbors spoke. Diane Warren (12965 W. 118th Place) expressed initial confusion about whether the request was for a duplex or an addition but was satisfied after clarification that it was a connected addition. Terry Goltz (12885 W. 118th Place) requested written confirmation of the addition plans and stated he wanted peace and quiet preserved. The petitioner, Justin Keith, clarified it is an addition to accommodate his elderly parents.
• Item 2 (Solid Fill): One public commenter, Paul Kleine (12515 Kyuman Avenue), raised concerns about aging drainage infrastructure on the property, urging that any fill activity must not worsen existing flooding and that drainage improvements should be addressed in the future.
• Item 3 (Solar Farm Extension): Six remonstrators spoke in opposition. Tom Lincoln (16321 Colorado Street) stated he was never notified and opposes the solar farm on environmental and floodplain grounds. Pam Seaman (7800 E. 157th Avenue) argued that the five-year delay and a separate battery storage project render the extension unnecessary; she urged denial. Kristen Wilbert (4941 E. 165th Avenue) cited procedural issues, stating the project has substantially changed since its 2021 approval and should require a new application; she also noted a NIPSCO substation land use violation. John Seaman (7800 E. 157th Avenue) said the developer has not found a customer and called the project an inefficient use of 3,000 acres. Stephanie Barrinka (16321 Colorado Street) echoed that five years is enough and asked for a new application to account for changes in the area. AJ Martin (1616 Colorado Street) emphasized the need for an updated environmental impact report considering recent wildlife changes and the combined effects of the solar farm, substation, and battery storage. All remonstrators opposed the six-month extension.
• Item 4 (Accessory Building Variance): John Heilic Standard (16416 Parish Avenue), the adjoining property owner, expressed concern that a completed accessory building without a primary residence could devalue his property. He stated he would be comfortable if a condition required the homeowner to pull a building permit for the home within a set timeframe. The petitioner's representative assured the board that the building would be a Morton structure for personal use and that the home would be built within two years.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 – 26-SE-04 (Danielle Rhinehart, Owner/Petitioner): The request was for a special exception to allow a two-unit house in an A-1 Agricultural Zone at 11880 White Oak Street, Hanover Township. The petitioner, Justin Keith (Advanced Skyline Homes), explained he plans to add a 950-square-foot attached addition to his existing home to care for his elderly parents, who both are in their 70s and his father had a severe heart attack. He stated the addition will be connected to the main house, sharing utilities and septic. He confirmed the addition will not require relocating electrical wires or altering the septic system and that blueprints are complete. Board members had no further questions.
• Item 2 – 26-SE-05 (Silver Rock Holdings, LLC): The request was for a special exception to deposit solid fill at 14520 Wicker Boulevard, Hanover Township. Doug Reddig (DVG) represented the owner, stating that clean fill (clay) had been inadvertently placed and cited; now they seek permission to bring additional fill to raise the elevation of farmland about 5–6 feet to match the highway grade, as a long-term step toward future business development after annexation into Cedar Lake. He noted agency comments were positive, and the health department, highway department (with conditions on truck information), and surveyor recommended approval. Board members acknowledged the property is currently agricultural and not contiguous to Cedar Lake, but found no issues with the fill plan.
• Item 3 – 26-XSE-02 (Foundry Works Solar Energy, LLC): The petitioner requested a six-month extension of a special exception (originally approved September 15, 2021) for a solar farm on approximately 3,117.771 acres (per agenda; transcript stated “3,171.771 acres” – a discrepancy exists). Representative Ryerson Burkertz listed progress since the last extension: completed decommissioning agreement, road use agreement, pre-construction road survey, updated environmental studies, detailed engineering designs, water delineation study, and submission of an 800-page site development plan including drainage plans to the county. They also funded a NIPSCO substation. The board received staff recommendation of denial. Board members expressed skepticism that six months would be sufficient after five years. A motion to deny was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote (majority in favor; no opposition noted). The petitioner must now reapply fully.
• Item 4 – 26-UV-05 (Thomas J. Postma, Owner/Petitioner): The request was for a variance of use to allow construction of an accessory building (100 ft by 60 ft) before the primary residence on a 22.73-acre lot at 16280 Parrish Street, West Creek Township. The representative explained that the petitioner intends to build a Morton building for equipment storage and site preparation, with a single-family home to follow within two years. A driveway permit had already been obtained. Board members discussed imposing a condition requiring the building permit for the home to be pulled within two years from the meeting date. One neighbor expressed conditional support if such a condition was included.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (26-SE-04): Approved – Motion to approve with findings of fact made and seconded; passed unanimously by voice vote. The petitioner may proceed with the two-unit house (addition).
• Item 2 (26-SE-05): Approved – Motion to approve the deposit of solid fill with findings of fact made and seconded; passed unanimously by voice vote.
• Item 3 (26-XSE-02): Denied – Motion to deny the six-month extension with findings of fact made and seconded; passed by voice vote (majority in favor; no opposition). The petitioner must resubmit a new special exception application.
• Item 4 (26-UV-05): Approved with Condition – Motion to approve the variance for the accessory building before the primary residence with findings of fact and a contingency that the building permit for the home must be pulled within two years from the meeting date (August 19, 2026, by August 19, 2028); made, seconded, and passed unanimously by voice vote.
• Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried.