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Burns Harbor council asked to authorize MOU for Westport site with Harbor Point LLC
Summary
The redevelopment commission approved a memorandum of understanding with a developer for the 28-acre Westport site and asked the town council to authorize the council president to sign it so due diligence and appraisals can proceed.
The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission has approved a memorandum of understanding with Harbor Point LLC to explore redevelopment options for the 28-acre Westport site, and asked the Town Council to authorize the council president to sign the document so the parties can begin due diligence.
The MOU would let the redevelopment commission and the town open initial talks with the developer, solicit appraisals and begin the administrative steps required if the town later sells or transfers the property for development. Redevelopment Commission representatives told the council the town acquired the site around 2018–2019 after assembling land formerly owned by the school corporation and that earlier development plans stalled after COVID and project leadership changes.
Council members asked for details about parcel count and next steps. Redevelopment representatives said the current, preliminary concept envisions roughly 70–71 single-family lots plus some small retail amenity space, but emphasized the MOU is an initial step, not a formal development plan. If the developer moves forward, the project would follow the usual track: a formal plan submitted to the plan commission, public hearings and then separate consideration by the town council.
Redevelopment staff asked the council to authorize the council president to sign the MOU and allow the RDC to solicit appraisals; a motion was made to authorize the council president to sign the MOU with Harbor Point LLC and the motion was seconded.
Council and RDC members stressed the process remains preliminary and that any sale would follow statutory appraisal and public-notice steps required by town code before a transfer or sale could be finalized. The council asked that staff bring any formal plan and appraisals to future meetings for review and public hearings.
The council did not adopt zoning or a development plan at the meeting; the MOU would only permit initial conversations and due diligence if authorized.
