Plan Commission recommends rezoning 56 acres north of State Road 39 for multifamily; residents raise traffic, drainage and notice concerns

The La Porte Plan Commission voted to recommend that the City Council rezone a 56‑acre property north of State Road 39 from B‑3 Highway Commercial to R‑3A Low‑Rise Multifamily Residential, a change the petitioners said would allow multifamily development and that staff said generally aligns with the county land development plan. Commissioners passed a favorable recommendation by voice vote; the council will consider an ordinance at subsequent hearings.

Developer representatives Mike Sullivan and Ryan Metz of Lincolnshire Investment presented a concept they described as a "big house" design that, in initial phases, could create about 200 apartment units and, at full buildout, "a little over 400 units." Sullivan said the proposal would downzone the entire parcel to R‑3A to allow multifamily and create a residential buffer along Highway 39. The petitioners told the commission the 56 acres contain roughly 20 to 25 acres of buildable land after accounting for wetlands and other constraints. Metz said, "those 3 locations are lower. They'll remain wetlands. Yes. And the trees within them will also stay."

David Heinold, city staff, briefed the commission that the request would rezone the site from the…