Angola planning panel approves Trine University’s 93,250‑sq‑ft air‑supported dome with conditions

The Angola Planning Commission voted Oct. 13 to approve a conditional development plan for a 93,250-square-foot air-supported dome proposed by Trine University, moving the project forward after a public hearing and staff recommendation that outstanding plan-review comments be addressed to staff satisfaction.

Staff told the commission the project, identified in the record as 2025PC10001, will sit on Sunder Drive just south of the Keith Bussey SDI Athletic Recreation Center and includes a 2,050-square-foot entry/airlock building with two offices, mechanical and electrical rooms and restrooms. Planning staff said the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a height variance for the project at their public hearing on 09/22/2025 and recommended conditional approval under Title 18 (Unified Development Ordinance) and applicable Indiana code provisions.

"Staff does recommend approval of the development plan on the condition that all plan review and routing comments are adequately addressed to staff satisfaction," planning staff told the commission during the presentation. The staff presentation included site photos, elevations and a zoning/land‑use context showing UV zoning around the site and institutional future‑land‑use designation.

Applicant Mike Bach described the project as a year‑round practice and training facility for university athletics and said the dome was advanced in the schedule so student‑athletes would have practice space while Hershey Hall undergoes renovation. "We're excited about the dome project. It'll be something unique, for not only the university, but for our community as well," Bach said, outlining a construction sequence of foundations, turf installation and then delivery and inflation of the dome kit. He said the project uses redundant systems to maintain inflation, includes emergency power and that the dome material is fire‑resistant.

Commissioners and members of the public asked about supporting infrastructure and code issues. Staff explained the project is subject to a construction stormwater permit process for projects over one acre (CSGP), which the applicant has applied for and which was pending at the meeting; staff also noted the number and location of restrooms are intended to meet code and that additional restrooms will be available to serve overflow events. The applicant said the field will use artificial turf with rubber infill and described perimeter roads and a large garage‑style airlock entrance to allow emergency and maintenance access.

After taking the required findings of fact, a motion to accept the development plan with staff‑recommended conditions passed by voice vote; Commissioner Amanda Coe was recorded as recused from this case. The motion directed that all plan review and routing comments be addressed to staff satisfaction as part of final approval.

The commission’s approval clears the next local procedural step; the applicant will finalize required permits and address staff comments before construction. Staff and the applicant indicated the dome manufacturer is under contract and the applicant is targeting occupancy as soon as January.