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Valparaiso board approves Meijer store variances, excludes canopy color request
Summary
The Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances for a proposed Meijer grocery and fuel kiosk at 2801 Calumet Avenue after the applicant revised access, landscaping and building elevations; the request to use corporate colors on the fuel canopy was withdrawn and excluded from approval. (Vote: 4-0)
The Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday approved variances for a proposed Meijer grocery store and adjacent fuel kiosk at 2801 Calumet Avenue, with the board excluding a requested change to the fuel canopy’s corporate coloring.
The petition, filed by Myers Stores Limited Partnership care of Atwell, LLC, sought multiple departures from the Valparaiso Unified Development Ordinance related to access spacing, building projection and architectural features for the combined grocery-and-fuel site. Carrie Williams, a civil engineer for Atwell, and Ross Beier, Meijer’s Indiana real estate manager, told the board they had revised the site plan, updated elevations and amended the traffic study after meetings with city staff and a third-party traffic consultant.
Why it mattered: Staff and the applicant told the board that the western access on Vail would be reconfigured to a right-turn-in, left-turn-out only and that additional signage and geometric changes would be installed to direct truck traffic away from adjacent residences. The applicant said city engineer Max Raylander reviewed and signed off on the amended traffic analysis and the proposed reuse of existing access points.
Board members also reviewed architectural changes. Williams said the design team added three-foot-wide precast panels and additional wall sconces on the front and rear facades to better align the store’s materials and improve the pedestrian experience. She described similar changes at the canopy columns for the fuel kiosk, noting the canopy columns would be wrapped in precast concrete.
During discussion staff clarified the applicant could withdraw the variance seeking corporate colors on the fuel canopy under UDO §2.552(b)(2). On behalf of the applicant Williams said, "we do withdraw that request to modify the canopy colors. We are meeting the ordinance with the white." With that amendment on the record, a board member moved to approve the petition for all requested variances except the canopy color request; another member seconded.
The clerk called the roll; the four members present voted "yes," and the motion carried 4-0. No conditions beyond the plan revisions and the withdrawn canopy color request were recorded in the motion.
What’s next: With the board’s variances granted, site work and final permitting would proceed through city permitting channels; the applicant and staff discussed follow-up items such as final geometric changes at the Vail access and landscaping details before construction.
