The Valparaiso City Council voted to refer a rezoning application for a roughly 70‑acre property at State Road 130 and County Road 250 West back to the plan commission for additional review after council members sought more environmental analysis and consideration of new buffer rules.

City staff read Ordinance 22 on first reading. The applicant, represented by Dan Turzman, described a two-part project: approximately 66 acres allocated for single‑family residential development to be built in partnership with Lennar Homes and a roughly 4‑acre commercial corner intended for a Luke family service station. Turzman said the proposed service station would use modern safeguards including double‑walled fiberglass tanks, vapor recovery and a separate on‑site detention pond with a filtration structure to isolate and pretreat runoff.

Councilors expressed concerns about proximity to existing homes, vapor emissions, groundwater and cumulative station saturation in the city. One council member noted research suggesting vapor setbacks have increased in some states and proposed draft ordinance language to set minimum separations from residences and between stations; staff and the developer responded the site will be subject to city and state standards and that some design controls could be agreed to contractually.

Multiple council members said the Plan Commission had not yet received the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) report and asked that the EAB present to the plan commission so that both bodies review the same information. Legal counsel explained the plan‑commission recommendation triggers a 90‑day council action window but the council can refer the matter back to the plan commission with direction.

Following debate a motion to refer Ordinance 22 to the plan commission — with a request that the EAB present its report and that the plan commission review Councilman Cotton’s draft ordinance regarding setbacks — passed on a roll call of 5–2. The council expects the plan commission to consider the request and return a recommendation in January; the council will next take up the rezoning after that recommendation.

Public comment at the meeting included several residents and environmental advocates urging the council to slow decisions on gas‑station siting, and also speakers arguing modern gas‑station design reduces historical environmental risks.

The plan commission will receive the EAB materials and the ordinance will return to council following that body’s January recommendation.