Porter County BZA approves multiple variances, clears new Liberty Township fire station; several cases continued

PORTER COUNTY — The Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals on an unspecified October meeting date approved a string of variances and land-use requests affecting residential accessory structures and a new fire station, and continued several other applications pending additional surveys or legal review.

The board approved applications ranging from detached garages and pole barns to a planned Liberty Township fire station, placed conditions on some approvals (including attorney review and affidavit requirements), and continued cases where surveys or notice issues remained unresolved.

The approvals matter to property owners seeking to repair or replace existing outbuildings, to residents adjacent to proposed construction, and to township officials building a new public safety facility.

The board approved a conditional variance for case DV-2025-37, a request involving a homeowner’s detached garage and a small greenhouse. The board granted the variance contingent on the county attorney and code officer reviewing whether re-advertising or additional procedure was required; if counsel determines re-advertisement is needed, the approval will be vacated and a follow-up hearing scheduled. The applicant provided a new survey to the office during the hearing and the board discussed a neighbor complaint from a vacant adjacent property.

The board renewed a use variance (UV-2024-56) to allow a temporary mobile unit on a 14.93-acre property to house a caretaker after the applicant reported the caretaker’s injury prevented in-person attendance. The board noted this renewal follows prior five-year reviews and scheduled the next public hearing when the five-year period comes due.

The board approved case DV-2025-47 (applicant David Sickles) to allow a 30-by-40 accessory structure with a required 15-foot side setback. The board’s motion required the applicant to revise the application to reflect the 15-foot side and rear setbacks and to maintain an existing backyard shed as part of the total square footage calculation.

Case DV-2025-54 (applicants Eric and Greg Babcock, represented by counsel) requested to place a 30-by-60 accessory structure in the front yard on a 4.28-acre RR lot. The board approved the request with a signed affidavit condition that the structure be used for personal (noncommercial) purposes and that building plans match the house materials and the agreed conditions during the building-permit review.

The board reviewed and approved four variances for DVD-2025-56 to allow construction of a new Liberty Township fire station: narrower-than-code driveway/intersection spacing (127 feet where 150 feet is standard for a collector), a wider driveway throat at the right-of-way (requested up to 51 feet to accommodate fire apparatus turning radii), a waiver/adjustment to meet planting/landscaping requirements near the right-of-way for vehicle sight lines, and permission for limited ground-mounted accent lighting on the building facade. Liberty Township trustee Matt Kaiser told the board the township had saved about $2.5 million toward the project and closed on a bond to fund the remainder; he described the existing station as functionally deficient.

Several cases were continued because key documents or surveys were missing from the file. Case DV-2025-53 (applicant seeking to replace an existing structure) was continued to allow the applicant time to obtain a survey and to allow staff and the county attorney to determine whether renotification would be required. Case DV-2025-55, concerning a larger livestock/horse barn (40-by-100 requested), was continued for the applicant to supply a site survey and additional information about prior building footprints and insurance documentation. The board advised applicants to provide full surveys so staff could confirm setbacks and avoid repeat continuances.

Votes at a glance - DV-2025-37: Approved with contingency — contingent on county attorney and code officer review; may require re-advertising (motion approved; applicant to supply survey; neighbor complaint noted). - UV-2024-56: Renewal of use variance for a temporary mobile caretaker unit on a 14.93-acre property — approved; next five-year hearing to be scheduled. - DV-2025-47 (David Sickles): Approved — 30x40 accessory structure; applicant must revise application to meet 15-foot side and rear setbacks; existing backyard shed to be included in square-footage accounting. - DV-2025-54 (Eric/Malapanis / Greg Babcock, rep.): Approved — 30x60 front-yard accessory structure on 4.28 acres; approval conditioned on personal-use affidavit and building plans consistent with the house. - DVD-2025-56 (Liberty Township): Approved — variances for landscaping, driveway location (127 ft from intersection vs. 150 ft required), driveway width (up to 51 ft at ROW), and limited ground-mounted up-lighting; condition language expected in permit plans. - DVD-2025-57 (Joseph Mollner): Approved with modification — applicant asked to reduce/relocate the proposed structure and resubmit plans; board approved a smaller 40-by-30 replacement structure conditioned on meeting setbacks and building-code requirements. - DVD-2025-53: Continued — applicant to submit a survey; hearing continued to allow staff/county attorney review and possible renotification. - DVD-2025-55: Continued — applicant to provide survey and documentation regarding the prior pole barn and exact desired footprint; board advised applicant to coordinate with staff to avoid another continuance.

Meeting context and next steps Board members repeatedly emphasized the need for accurate surveys and complete application materials before hearings; when surveys were filed during the meeting, the board accepted them into the record and used them to shape conditions. The board often conditioned approvals on ministerial items (revised application forms, signed affidavits, or counsel review) rather than substantive policy changes. For continued items the board asked applicants to email or deliver surveys to staff (Monica or Christie) and to confirm whether re-notification would be required. Building permits and site plans will be reviewed by county staff under the conditions set by the board.

What the board did not do The board did not adopt any new policy or ordinance; it acted on individual variance and use-permit requests and directed staff and applicants to complete follow-up steps when documentation was missing. When the board lacked a required survey or when a complaint from an absent neighbor remained unresolved, it either continued the item or approved it conditionally pending legal review.