The Crown Point City Planning Commission on Dec. 22 recommended that the City Council approve a rezoning request from the Crown Point Community Foundation to change about 6.27 acres at 12410 Marshall Street from R‑1 (single‑family residential) to OS‑1 (office services). After a public hearing and questions from neighbors and commissioners, the panel voted 6–0 to forward a favorable recommendation; Commissioner Rich Day recused himself from discussion of the petitions.

Why it matters: Foundation leaders said the organization needs dedicated office space and room for occasional events and nonprofit training. The site sits between 121st and 125th on Court Street near the Crossroads YMCA campus and St. Jude home, and petitioners said the office use would be consistent with the professional and medical services already along the corridor.

Petition and presentation: Attorney/representative Jeff Ban told the commission the foundation has a contract to acquire the parcel from the Crossroads YMCA and plans a roughly 4,600‑square‑foot brick office building with about 10 offices, a conference room and intern space. The foundation emphasized that utilities and topography can serve the site and that the requested OS‑1 zoning aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan and existing nearby uses. The petitioner estimated construction and outfitting costs at more than $2.5 million.

Planning staff recommendation and public comment: Planning staff said notices were sent as required, that no letters of remonstrance or support had been received, and recommended approval of petition 25‑39. Neighbors asked whether the purchase affects the portion of the YMCA parcel that had been intended for soccer fields and whether wetlands cover parts of the site. Petitioner and staff said the YMCA currently has no immediate plans for the former recreational fields, that the purchase relates only to the outlined 6.27 acres, and that the northern third of the parcel includes wetland area where the applicant does not plan to build.

Wetlands and drainage concerns: Several residents said past development in the area had damaged their properties during heavy runoff and asked how stormwater would be handled. The project designer said a detention basin will be sited near the existing wetland to hold and slowly discharge stormwater; he said the design must meet city standards and not increase existing runoff. One resident said they had been told when the land was donated to the YMCA it would never be sold; the petitioner said he was not aware of any deed restriction and that his client holds a legal purchase‑and‑sale agreement with the current owner.

Workshop on site plan (petition 25‑40): The commission then heard a non‑voting workshop of the proposed site plan. The designer showed a site layout with the building at the southern end of the property, about 37 parking spaces, sidewalks and a proposed right‑turn lane into the site. Access will include an ingress/egress easement to preserve future connectivity to parcels to the north and west; the petitioner said the builder expects a union construction contract for the work. Staff and the petitioner said detailed engineering and final drainage calculations will be prepared prior to formal submittal and will be public records available through the engineering department.

Outcome and next steps: The commission adopted findings of fact and recommended approval of the rezoning to the City Council. No formal vote was taken on the site plan at this meeting; the applicant was directed to return with subdivision and site‑plan applications, engineering drawings and final building elevations.