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Schererville BZA approves three variances for proposed fire station at 143 W. Joliet St.
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved three coordinated variances requested by the Town of Schererville to locate a new fire station at 143 West Joliet Street, overriding Overlay District setback limits after public questions and comments about site choice, trees and cost.
The Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to approve three development variances that would allow a new town fire station to locate at 143 West Joliet Street.
James M. Gorman, town manager, told the board the project cannot meet Joliet Street Overlay District setback rules because the lot is only about 69 feet wide. "In the Overlay District, it's only allowed to be 15 feet. This one is 280 feet," Gorman said, describing the front-yard setback request.
The three approvals covered: a front-yard setback (BZA case 25-11-171) seeking roughly a 280-foot setback where 15 feet is the maximum; a side-yard variance (BZA case 25-11-18) to allow 15-foot side setbacks where the overlay permits 12 feet; and an entryway/entrance variance (BZA case 25-11-19) to permit a building entrance approximately 300 feet from the right-of-way where the maximum is 40 feet. Each request cited Ordinance 2004, Title 16, section 6 (paragraphs e(2), e(3) and f(7)).
Board member Bill Jarvis moved approval of each variance "pursuant to all state, local, [and] federal regulations," and each motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.
During public comment residents raised concerns about site selection, cost and environmental impacts. Ira Zimmer of 1720 South Park Avenue said a feasibility study discussed publicly was done a decade ago and asked whether a planned closure of Joliet Street at Kennedy Avenue had been finalized; Gorman replied that the plan "has not been finalized to close off Joliet" and "it's not even engineered yet." Zimmer also questioned building a new station instead of repairing HVAC issues at existing facilities and cited an estimated project cost of "$10 to $15,000,000."
An unidentified resident who said they are a firefighter objected to removal of roughly four acres of trees, said wildlife had been displaced, and asked why an alternative site (the racetrack) could not be used; the speaker noted a need to cap any oil and gas contamination on that site if it were to be reused.
Board members noted that building-level access, driveway configuration and engineering details will be considered at the Planning Commission and in subsequent design reviews. Gorman confirmed the next steps include a lot subdivision before design and engineering review.
The approvals apply only to the variances recorded in the BZA cases; final building design, site engineering, and any street changes are subject to later Planning Commission review and other approvals.
