Planning Commission approves primary plat to split former Tire Barn parcel at US‑20

The Michigan City Planning Commission on May 27 approved the primary plat for a minor subdivision that splits the parcel at 201/275 West U.S. Highway 20 into two lots, clearing the way for the former Tire Barn site to be redeveloped while creating an additional marketable commercial lot.

The commission’s approval was limited to primary plat status and carried the condition that outstanding department comments — chiefly on stormwater, sanitary sewer connections and private water lines — be addressed to the satisfaction of city departments and planning staff before any secondary plat approval.

Attorney Steve Unger, representing petitioner GLI 275 US 20 LLC, told the commission the site includes a vacant former Tire Barn building on the west side of the parcel and that the developer intends to redevelop that building as a new auto shop while subdividing off the east portion as a second lot that could be sold or used for parking tied to the adjacent Marquette Mall. Unger said the plat complies with the subdivision control ordinance in his view and that sewer and water service appear available from the former development.

Planning staff summarized departmental review that flagged three substantive areas: (1) stormwater infrastructure crossing the proposed lots and receiving inlets and easements that must be shown; (2) clarity about sanitary sewer service origins and whether services are public or private; and (3) locating and severing mall-owned water/irrigation lines near a shutoff structure at the southwest corner of proposed Lot 2. The water department asked that a site utilities map or ALTA survey be provided showing the origin and termination of private lines and documentation that private lines are severed outside proposed property lines.

Petitioner representatives said they will identify utilities located on their property and work with departments on needed documentation but argued it would be unreasonable to require them to map the mall’s entire utility network. Commissioners and staff agreed the applicant should identify and map structures and utility lines immediately adjacent to the proposed lots so departments can confirm connections and drainage paths.

Public commenters supported facilitating redevelopment. Tommy Kolovic noted the Marquette Mall has a new owner as of May 7 and urged progress; Scott Mellon said subdivision to create a marketable second lot made sense but asked that parking and lot dimensions be adequate.

The commission voted by roll call to approve primary plat petition 902-251 with the staff conditions for department signoff prior to secondary approval. The vote recorded: Bolling, Connolly, Dabney, DeMedici, Klender, Tietta and Warner — all in favor. Secondary plat approval will be handled administratively by enforcement staff once departments confirm the conditions have been satisfied.

The action keeps a 120‑day approval timeline in play for the petitioner to complete required work before secondary plat processing and avoids requiring the applicant to return to the commission unless there are substantial changes.

Questions about exact utility alignments and stormwater inlets remain to be addressed between the petitioner, CHAAPC Engineering & Land Surveying (surveyor Tony Hendricks) and city departments before the secondary plat can be finalized.