Angola planning commission approves partial plat vacation, recommends rezoning for Trine University expansion

The Angola City Planning Commission on May 12 approved a partial vacation of platted Lots 36 and 37 and recommended that the City Council rezone three parcels on West Prospect Street to a university zoning district to allow Trine University to expand its campus operations.

Planner and commission secretary Grace Essman told the commission that the request covers three parcels totaling about 1.272 acres at 715, 717 and 721 W. Prospect St., and that the plat being amended — College Second Addition — was originally recorded in July 1904. Essman said the application asks to vacate lot lines, setbacks and unused easements for Lots 36 and 37 while maintaining any active utility easements and setback restrictions. “Staff recommends approval of the requested vacation to allow Trine University to continue its expansions,” Essman said.

The request before the commission included two related items: project case 2025PC05001, a plat vacation for portions of Lots 36 and 37, and project case 2025PC05002, a zoning map amendment to change three parcels from Traditional Residential to the University (UV) district. Essman said 10 property owners within 300 feet were notified and that a legal notice ran in the Herald Republican on May 2; she told the commission staff received one visit from a notified property owner, who raised no objections to the vacation or the rezoning and said he would attend future meetings when development plans are considered.

Ken Wilson, representing Trine University, said the university recently acquired a house on Lot 37 and that the plat vacation and rezoning are primarily a cleanup step to align property lines and zoning with existing campus use and an upcoming small addition to the campus operations building. “It was my recommendation to the university that we just clean this up all at one time,” Wilson said.

A resident who received notice spoke at the meeting and said he believes his property (Platted Lot 41) is four houses away and that he has no problem with the request. The commission chair asked the standard plat-vacation findings (whether conditions have changed since the original plat, whether vacation is in the public interest and whether the value of remaining platted lots would be diminished). Commissioners agreed the plat has been subdivided and altered over the years and that a partial vacation is appropriate to accommodate the university’s expansion.

On the plat vacation (2025PC05001) the commission voted to accept the petition and approve the partial vacation by voice vote; no opposition was recorded during the meeting. For the zoning map amendment (2025PC05002) the commission made and seconded a motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the Angola Common Council. The commission’s recommendation will be considered at the council’s first reading on May 19 at 7 p.m. in the same meeting location.

The commission’s staff report cited the City of Angola Comprehensive Plan’s land-use principles — including promoting compact form and supporting the university as a community partner — and listed permitted uses in the University (UV) zoning district that would apply if the rezoning is approved. Future development plans and any building additions must return to the commission for development-plan approval before construction proceeds.

Meeting housekeeping: the commission approved minutes from its April 14 meeting earlier in the session. The board also noted the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting scheduled for May 27 was canceled due to no applications.

What’s next: the rezoning will proceed to the Angola City Council for three readings beginning May 19; any development plans for the campus addition will be considered by the planning commission when submitted.