Planning commission forwards Shad Brennan rezoning at 504 Eastwood Road to council with favorable recommendation

The Michigan City Planning Commission voted unanimously on Sept. 23 to forward petition P101-25 — a request to rezone two contiguous parcels at 504 Eastwood Road from M-2 heavy industrial to R-1C single-family residential — to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation.

The petition, filed by Shad Brennan Investing Partnership and represented at the meeting by attorney Anthony Novak of Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones, covers two parcels totaling about 20 acres: a 5-acre parcel with an existing residence and a roughly 15-acre parcel behind it. Novak said the owners’ intent is to preserve the property and, if needed in the future, rebuild or place a residence rather than return the land to commercial/industrial use. "We're just doing a simple rezone request tonight," Novak said during his presentation.

City planning staff presented a report recommending approval. Planning staff noted the parcels are currently taxed and used as residential, that the city's comprehensive plan labels the parcels as rural residential, and that much of the area to the west of the property is already zoned R-1C. Planner Skyler York read findings that the requested zoning change is consistent with the future land use map and the character of surrounding uses, and concluded the rezoning would not be injurious to property values.

The commission’s legal advisor confirmed the petitioners had complied with notice requirements and that the commission’s role is to hold a public hearing and forward a recommendation to the Common Council under Indiana Code 36-7-4-603 and the city zoning ordinance. "I've had an opportunity to review the notice, documentation supplied by the petitioner. It's in conformance with our requirements," the legal advisor said.

Three members of the public spoke in support. Tommy Kolovic suggested the owners consider donating the parcel to the Shirley Heinze Land Trust in their will; Scott Mellentour and another resident praised the applicants’ stated preservation goals and the wooded character of the site.

After public comment the commission moved to forward the petition to the Common Council with a favorable recommendation and attached findings prepared by staff. The roll call vote recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Bolling, Dabney, DeMedici, DePalma, Clender, Tejeta, and Warner; the motion carried and the certification and proposed ordinance will be sent to the Common Council for final action.

The commission chair closed the item and indicated staff would follow up with the applicants and the Common Council as the ordinance proceeds through the council's process.