Council rezones parcel for new Culver's; staff authorized to finalize water main and easements

The Whiteland Town Council on March 11 approved an ordinance rezoning a parcel along a creek and U.S. 31 to commercial to permit a Culver's restaurant and authorized town staff to finalize related water and sewer agreements and easements.

Town staff described the parcel as a triangular lot that included some residential zoning along a creek; the rezoning request would make the entire parcel commercial so future construction would not encounter a residential-zoned section. "So this is currently, located the current location of the parcel of 171 RBS 31, to the restaurant site ... part of the parcel is zoned residential. And just to just kind of make everything clean, we've asked that the property owner, and the development, rezone the entire parcel to commercial so it all matches," the town's planning representative said.

A representative for the developer identified himself as Chris Blair with Founding Corporation and said the store would be a "large format" Culver's franchise and that water and sewer connections were addressed in prior coordination with town staff. "This is a large format store," he said. The developer said construction permitting remains to be completed and estimated physical construction could take less than six months once permitting is finished.

A resident and other council members asked about flood-zone impacts and creek maintenance. Staff and the developer said the ordinance updates language required by FEMA and the state but does not change official flood maps. The county holds a drainage easement along the creek, and staff said portions of the parcel are undevelopable because of trees and the drain location. Residents pressed the developer to protect the creek and to limit sediment or dirt leaving the site during construction; the developer and staff said erosion and site controls would be required through permitting.

Before the council moved on, a council member asked the town attorney and staff to be authorized to finalize a water main extension agreement and any necessary easements and transfers with the developer. The council voted to authorize staff to work with the developer on the water main extension agreement and easements and to have those documents executed when ready.

The rezoning ordinance was adopted by recorded roll call. Staff said additional documents related to utility extensions will be brought to the town for execution once finalized.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-O3 (rezoning for Culver's) approved on second reading; council authorized staff to finalize water main extension agreements and easements.