Council approves sewer connection for Long Beach peninsula property; annexation waiver discussed

On July 1 the Michigan City Common Council approved a resolution permitting Yellow Bear Farms LLC to connect a single Long Beach property (2520 Shorewood Drive) to Michigan City sewer utilities, subject to conditions in the city ordinance requiring waiver of annexation objections.

Attorney Anthony Novak and sponsor Councilman Chris Walensky explained the process to members: an applicant outside city limits must agree to waive objections to future annexation. Novak said the waiver runs with the land for 15 years and would be recorded with the resolution if adopted. He told the council that the property is roughly 7.5 acres on a peninsula of Lake Claire and that the sanitary district staff reviewed the application and concluded the system has capacity for the proposed connection.

Council members discussed precedent and the city’s practice of extending utilities outside municipal borders. Councilman Dabney said he generally wants annexation when the city provides utilities; Councilman Beatri asked about setting a precedent for more requests and whether a single-home use might become a larger development. Novak and sanitary-district representatives noted that the sanitary district will charge tap and other fees, and the district’s letter of approval indicated no capacity problems.

The resolution passed 7–2 in roll-call vote. Councilwoman Moldenhauer and Councilwoman Tillman voted against the measure; clerk roll call indicated seven members voted in favor. The applicant’s attorney said the owner has no current interest in using the property as a resort and that revenue to the sanitary district would increase with the connection.