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Plan Commission favorably recommends rezoning of La Porte tract for mixed single-family and townhomes
Summary
The La Porte Plan Commission voted to favorably recommend a zone map change for a roughly 26-acre parcel to allow single-family and townhouse zoning after hearing developer presentations, staff recommendation, and extensive public comment about trees, buffers and infrastructure costs.
The La Porte Plan Commission voted to favorably recommend a zone map change for petition 25-02, a request to rezone roughly 26 acres from R-1B Single-Family Residential to a combination of R-1D Single-Family Residential and R-2B Townhouse Residential.
Staff presented the petition and recommended approval, telling the commission the request “is appropriate for the surrounding area of mixed commercial and low density residential” and that the countywide land development plan encourages additional residential uses near major highways and public utilities. John Kopchak, representing the petitioner, described the submission as a concept plan that would allow a mix of single-family lots and mostly five-unit townhome buildings and said the layout would be refined as final construction drawings are developed.
The petition drew extended public comment from nearby property owners and business representatives who urged preserving mature trees and the wooded buffer behind Monroe Street businesses. Dale Knouse, owner of Cutler Funeral Home, said the forest “is not just trees. It has always been a source of comfort, peace, and healing,” and asked that townhomes be moved or replaced with fewer single-family lots to preserve the woods. Surveyor Steven Thate urged the commission to consider lot-size and density differences, saying, “The current zoning is R-1B, which is 10,000 square foot lots, 4.4 lots per acre, and they wanna take it to R-1D, which is 5,000 square foot, 8.7 lots per acre… And then the townhomes would be 3,120 square feet per lot, 14 units per acre.” Residents raised concerns about wildlife, stormwater, lighting from adjacent businesses, possible loss of property value and whether the city would subsidize infrastructure costs.
City engineering staff and other speakers noted the parcel was donated several years ago and that the city and developer have worked over time to arrive at a feasible infrastructure plan. City engineer Nick Minnick and other staff members said the R-2B provision was expected as part of enabling density to make utilities and roads financially viable. Developer representatives said they will try to preserve perimeter trees and work with neighbors on buffers, and reiterated that the rezoning is a preliminary step: “this is a concept right now,” one developer said, adding that final layouts can be adjusted as plans advance.
After discussion, a planning commission member moved to favorably recommend the zone map change to the common council; a second was made and the motion passed. The recommendation does not itself rezone the property—the City Common Council will consider final adoption. Staff and developers said further design work, platting and utility arrangements will follow the rezoning decision and that tree preservation, buffers and engineering details will be addressed during those subsequent steps.
The commission’s recommendation advances the petition while leaving open later opportunities for neighbors and the city to request design changes and protections on tree preservation and infrastructure sequencing.
