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Council approves rezoning for planned fire station amid resident and firefighter concerns
Summary
Council rezoned parcels to institutional to accommodate a proposed central fire station and approved related subdivisions; public commenters and the firefighters— union urged reassessment and said Station 1 is outdated and undersized.
Schererville council members voted Nov. 12 to rezone two parcels from R-2 residential to institutional to allow construction of a planned fire station and to consolidate lots as part of long-range facility planning.
Town manager Jim Gorman said the properties along Joliet Street and nearby parcels—acquired by the town over recent years—must be rezoned to an "INST" classification to permit a fire station. Council approved the first rezoning (Planning Case 25-1121) on a 4–1 vote after one member said the location was not appropriate and questioned the timing and expenditure. A subsequent rezoning (Case 25-11-22) passed 4–1 as well.
During public comment Ira Zimmer urged the council to update the feasibility study before committing to a site, saying conditions and roadway plans (including a possible Joliet Street closure) have changed since prior analyses. Colin Zachovic, secretary of the Schererville Firefighters Union Local 4279, told the council Station 1 at 1650 S. Klein is "not right now suitable for where we are at," describing HVAC failures, insufficient space for staffing growth and operational disruptions that required moving to Station 3 at times this year.
Gorman said the rezoning is an early land-use step; the town will next pursue subdivision, design and funding decisions. The rezoning vote advances land-use authorization but does not itself authorize construction or financing of a new station.
Next steps: planning staff will proceed with one-lot subdivision and subsequent design and funding work; residents requested updated feasibility and traffic impact information before final siting and capital approval.
