Hammond planning panel backs subdivision and rezoning for large storage, RV facility with solar canopy

The City of Hammond Plan Commission voted unanimously Oct. 20 to grant preliminary and final approval for a one‑lot subdivision and to forward a rezoning recommendation that would allow a large private storage and RV/boat facility on multiple parcels near Sheffield Avenue and 136th Street.

Petitioner Scott Yaney, speaking for Storage Development Hammond LLC and accompanied by principal Amit Patel, told commissioners the project would consolidate five tax parcels into a single lot at 3518 Sheffield Avenue (and the parcel around 345 136th Street) and put previously underused, environmentally challenged land back into productive use. "One of the significant aspects of this project is that you might wonder, that's a really big swath of land. What used to exist there? As far back as anybody can determine, nothing," Yaney said, and added that Mead and others have been working on contamination remediation.

Yaney described the development as a roughly 200,000‑square‑foot climate‑controlled storage building plus about 311 canopy parking stalls for RVs and boats. "These stalls...will have solar collectors, so we're going to also be generating electricity at that site via solar collection," Yaney said, noting the canopies are an integral part of the design.

Staff recommended approval with conditions. Mr. Pollan (staff) told the commission the plat meets the Subdivision Control Ordinance requirements and that agency review produced no objections in the time frame; staff recommended preliminary and final approval of the plat subject to the technical corrections staff identified and to the later rezoning to I‑1. After discussion and a call for any public comment (none was offered), the commission approved the subdivision by roll call vote, 7–0.

The rezoning petition (CP‑25‑08) seeks to reclassify split I‑1/C‑4 zoning across the consolidated lot to a single I‑1 (light industrial) designation. Yaney told the commission the change is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the North Hammond redevelopment plan and described project amenities that include a wash bay and dump station for RVs, a family lounge area, a dog park and on‑site employment. He also said he has specifically excluded certain uses from the site and will record a covenant to restrict them: "We're never going to sell fireworks from this site...adult entertainment...vehicle sales...Tow yard, not allowed," Yaney said.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on how the use restrictions would be enforced (a recorded commitment document vs. separate covenant language tied to future BZA approvals) and on technical details about access gates and vehicle queuing at 136th Street. Amit Patel described gate options (RFID stickers or pin pad) and said vertical lift gates are preferred to avoid sliding into adjacent property. Staff said the recording of a commitment document restricting specified I‑1 uses should be a condition of a favorable recommendation.

The commission voted 7–0 to forward the rezoning petition to the city council with a favorable recommendation, conditioned on the recording of the commitment document restricting specified I‑1 uses. Staff asked the petitioner to submit a revised digital plat showing the technical corrections before final administrative steps. The recommendation and subdivision approvals are procedural steps that will be followed by city council action on zoning and any subsequent BZA or permit reviews required to implement the development.

The commission’s action leaves the project approved at the planning commission level subject to: (1) the technical corrections identified by staff; (2) recording the commitment document restricting certain I‑1 uses; and (3) any further approvals required by the city council, BZA, or permitting authorities.