Developers present primary plat for Gates of St. John; stormwater, water and sewer capacity raised

Developers representing LBL Development presented a proposed primary plat for the Gates of St. John units 32–40 during the St. John Plan Commission study session on April 2, 2025, describing a multi‑phase residential project, stormwater work and infrastructure connections ahead of a public hearing scheduled in two weeks.

The developer, identified in the meeting as Mr. Kiel, told the commission the submission includes age‑restricted single‑family homes intended as phase 1 and that signs and notices have been posted and mailed. “I have advertised for public hearing in 2 weeks … signs have been posted on the property,” Kiel said. He said engineering review has been frequent and that a final set of plans should be available before the public hearing.

The applicant said stormwater design and a county bridge are central constraints. “We’ve had a lot of, it’s taken a lot of time to actually hydraulically model the ditch there and everything for the bridge that’s gonna have to be put in,” Kiel said, and added a permit has been applied for to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for the bridge work. He said the bridge will be in the county bridge inventory and maintained by the county.

Commissioners and residents focused questions on utilities, capacity and phasing. The developer said the town recently bid wells 8 and 9 and that when those wells come online the town will be able to pump “just a touch over 10,000,000 gallons a day,” which the applicant said exceeds current average daily usage. The developer estimated the project’s water use at about “51,000 gallons a day.”

On sewer, the applicant said the town purchases capacity at the Schererville Wastewater Treatment Plant and that Saint John has existing arrangements to buy additional shares of capacity when needed. The developer said there is a capacity fee of $1,379 assessed per new single‑family permit to pay into a wastewater treatment expansion fund. He said that fund is restricted to plant expansions and noted past purchases of capacity, but did not provide a formal schedule of future purchases.

Commissioners pressed for detail on timeline and unit counts. The developer said the full overall Gates project is a decade‑scale effort and that the new primary plat for this phase is expected to be built over many years. Participants discussed varying counts mentioned in the presentation: engineering and detention needs may reduce the number of units, but the developer said the annexation and prior approvals allow a maximum in that area in the 600s (speakers referenced figures including 601, 604). The developer repeated that some portions of the project are age‑restricted; attendees were told owners must be age 55 or older and that surveys are used to verify compliance over time.

The commission did not take formal action at the study session; staff said a public hearing and additional materials will be provided at the next Plan Commission meeting in two weeks.

The Plan Commission indicated it expects traffic, water, sewer and stormwater to be primary topics during the public hearing and asked applicants to return with any outstanding documentation.