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Plan commission backs rezoning for proposed Schererville fire station amid resident concerns
Summary
The Schererville Plan Commission voted to recommend rezoning two parcels, including 143 W. Joliet St., from R-2 residential to institutional to allow a future fire station; residents raised traffic, wildlife and property-boundary concerns during public comment.
Schererville — The Plan Commission voted Nov. 3 to forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council to rezone two parcels, including 143 West Joliet Street, from R‑2 residential to institutional to make way for a proposed fire station.
Town Manager James M. Gorman told the commission that a feasibility study identified this site and that the town has been acquiring property based on that plan. “We started buying properties, based on that, and that's how we came about to do it,” Gorman said.
The rezone request prompted extended public comment. Deana Garcia, who lives adjacent to the proposed site, said she is opposed and pressed the commission on wildlife and taxes: “I live right where the fire station is going to be built…the deer, they destroyed all the wild…They left one small little patch,” Garcia said, adding that she had photographs of deer near her home.
Other residents raised concerns about traffic and emergency-vehicle access after reconstruction work on Joliet Street. Cody Garcia said the downtown reconstruction and current police traffic could compound future congestion if the fire station is sited at 143 W. Joliet. Ira Zimmer and others urged the commission to revisit the feasibility study because of recent street changes.
Gorman replied that access to U.S. 30 would be from Anna Street and that final design of entrances and exits (Anna vs. Joliet) had not been decided. He also said the town plans to build an access road connecting Anna Street to the church parking lot as part of the project, with a likely timeline of up to 36 months for road and building work.
Commissioners emphasized the scope of the current vote was a rezone only; any subdivision, engineering design and variances will return to the commission or the Board of Zoning Appeals. Commissioner Jarvis made the motion for a favorable recommendation; the motion passed on roll call with commissioners recorded as voting yes.
The Town Council will make the ultimate decision on rezoning. If approved, the next steps will include final subdivision approval, engineering, any stormwater waivers or variances and BZA review for setbacks or other exceptions.
