Michigan City planning commission unanimously approves final PUD for Moore subdivision

The Michigan City Planning Commission unanimously approved final planned-unit development (PUD) site plan for the Moore subdivision on Jan. 28, 2025, granting final approval for a 40-unit residential project on about 8.5 acres near Moore Road and Highway 12.

Attorney Anthony Novak, representing Pyramid Properties Inc., told the commission he was seeking final PUD approval for the Moore project and that the developer had satisfied the conditions set by the commission and city. "We believe we're in compliance with the conditions that you've set forth, and we would respectfully ask for final approval of the PUD tonight," Novak said.

The commission’s approval follows an earlier favorable planning commission recommendation on Oct. 22, 2024, and city council action: the PUD ordinance had its first reading Nov. 19, 2024, and second and third readings on Dec. 3, 2024, with the recorded ordinance dated Jan. 2, 2025. Staff and departmental reviewers reported the outstanding technical conditions on stormwater and utilities were addressed before the Jan. 28 final review.

Why it matters: the approval clears the PUD land-use approvals that will allow the developer to proceed with the next permitting steps and the forthcoming subdivision filings (the meeting record shows the developer will return to the commission for the major-subdivision/Track 1 plat). Department approvals and stormwater changes were central to commissioners’ review and to neighborhood interest.

Key approvals and technical fixes

- Stormwater: The developer redesigned Track 1 stormwater basins to meet the commission’s prior conditions; city engineering and the Michigan City Sanitary District confirmed the basins were enlarged to address additional flow and emergency bypass conditions. Al Wallace, operations and inspection manager, issued SWIP approval on Jan. 27, 2025, and a formal sanitary district stormwater permit was reported as issued.

- Utilities: The developer agreed to replace and relocate an existing wet well at the Birch Tree Lane entrance per the city engineer’s recommendation and to extend a water main on Track 1 at the water department’s request. The Department of Water Works provided stipulations for the future installation and city ownership of potable water lines; the planning staff reported those stipulations have been satisfied and the related correspondence is on the project record.

- Conservation and maintenance: The project’s conservation easement form was negotiated and approved by Steve Hale and will be recorded prior to any sale of units, as required by the previously imposed condition. A basin maintenance agreement will be added to the covenants and restrictions and become part of the homeowners association documents, as required.

Public comment and local context

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting praised the developer’s work to meet city requirements. Scott Mellon of 200 Kenwood Place said the developer had "jumped through every hoop" and noted the plan reduces potential density permitted by zoning (the speaker observed the proposal is fewer units than zoning would allow). Tommy Kolovic of 1316 Ohio Street encouraged use of local contractors and referenced the city’s local‑hiring ordinance for public works projects; planning staff clarified the hiring ordinance applies to public‑work projects, not private developments such as this one.

Commission action and next steps

A motion to approve the final PUD passed on a roll-call vote with all present voting in favor. The commission record shows the vote was unanimous. The developer will proceed to the major-subdivision/Track 1 filings next month for the first 16 units; staff noted additional approvals and recording of the conservation easement and HOA covenants are required before any unit sales.

A related item the commission discussed for future meetings: staff said a new standalone stormwater ordinance (to be removed from the zoning code and placed into its own municipal code chapter) will be presented to the commission and then to city council for review; staff planned to place draft materials in commissioners’ hands in February 2025.

The commission closed the petition and moved on to other agenda items; no additional conditions were added at final approval.