La Porte council approves rezoning of former Bridal Golf Course despite neighbors' concerns about fire risk and wetlands

The City of La Porte Common Council on Jan. 5 approved an ordinance amending the zoning map to rezone two parcels, including the former Bridal Golf Course site, clearing the way for higher-density single-family development by the parcel purchaser and its homebuilder partner.

Neighbors and environmental advocates urged the council to delay or deny the change. David Ambers, an attorney representing nearby property owner James Schaffner, told the council the proposed change from R1B to R1D "is spitting in the face of the master plan," and argued narrow lots and reduced setbacks would harm neighborhood character and pose fire risks. Jacob Hill submitted a written statement that "regional botanists and ecologists" from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources had identified "multiple rare plant species and the potential for rare…