Porter County plan commission approves design waivers for one‑lot subdivision in Morgan Township

The Porter County Plan Commission on Monday approved design waiver DW2026‑4, clearing the way for a proposed one‑lot major subdivision on a roughly 10.22‑acre parcel just west of County Road 650 East in Morgan Township.

Petitioner David Timmons, representing applicant Ron O'Connor, told the commission the property was split informally by a prior owner and that the request is essentially a final administrative step to allow a single residence on the remnant 10‑acre parcel. "We're asking for the 13 listed design waivers," Timmons said, summarizing the request and the parcel's history.

Staff explained that because the land had been divided multiple times without formal subdivision, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requires the parcel to be handled as a major subdivision, which triggers design‑standard requirements normally applied to larger residential developments. Staff outlined the specific waiver requests, including perimeter landscaping, block length limits, minimum right‑of‑way and street‑width standards, sidewalk and street‑lighting standards, and a request to use stormwater provisions from the minor‑subdivision standard instead of the major‑subdivision standard.

No members of the public spoke in favor of or against the petition during the public hearing. Commissioners said they found the waivers appropriate for the property's circumstances and the scale of the proposed development. Commissioner [speaker 4] moved to approve DW2026‑4; the motion was seconded and the clerk recorded a unanimous vote in favor; the motion passed.

With the waivers granted, the applicant will still be required to complete subdivision platting and a full stormwater review before obtaining any building permits.

What happens next: The petitioner indicated he will proceed with the plat and stormwater submittals; no further action by the plan commission on this case was recorded at the meeting.