St John plan commission approves 1-lot final plat, OKs Lucky Central site plan with contingencies

The Town of St John plan commission voted Feb. 18 to approve a one-lot final plat for a Schilling Development property and to grant site-plan approval for the Lucky Central Saint John commercial parcel, subject to conditions the town said are necessary before occupancy or construction.

Jack Slager of Schilling Development told the commission the company had obtained required variances and faced no remonstrances at an earlier public hearing, and requested final plat approval to allow a warehouse addition north of the Lumberyard. "We conducted our public hearing last month with no remonstrances, and we have obtained all the variances that we needed," Slager said. The commission approved the final plat after a motion by John Gill and a second by Russ Vogel.

Separately, a representative for Lucky Central Incorporated (identified on the record as Mister Haas) requested both final plat and site-development approval for a roughly 3.5-acre lot at the northeast corner of U.S. 41 and 85th Avenue that would host a quick-service gas station and convenience store. "It will be the home of a quick run gas station and convenience store," Mister Haas said, and outlined three contingencies: a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to resolve flood-plain mapping before building occupancy, presentation of an INDOT permit prior to construction, and payment of outstanding development fees.

Town staff told the commission they had not received required development fees and recommended withholding final plat signatures until fees were paid. The commission approved a final-plat motion that the record shows as contingent on mylars not being signed until all development fees are paid. The commission also approved site-plan clearance for Lucky Central conditioned on the LOMR being filed and accepted prior to any certificate of occupancy and on the INDOT permit being submitted before building permits are issued.

The approved actions were procedural votes recorded by roll call. Commission members who moved and seconded the motions were identified on the record; votes were recorded as 'aye' in roll-call. The approvals do not authorize occupancy or construction until the stated contingencies are satisfied.

The plan commission also set multiple related items for future review, including public hearings tied to final engineering reviews and staff comment letters. The commission's approvals Friday focus on procedural compliance — fee payment, mapping changes and state permitting — rather than on substantive changes to the proposed site layouts.

What comes next: applicants must provide the town with required documentation (payment receipts, LOMR evidence and INDOT permits) before permits or occupancy certificates will be issued.