Plan commission grants preliminary plat for Habitat for Humanity‑Zion Missionary Church partnership

The Elkhart City Plan Commission voted April 6 to grant preliminary approval of a primary plat that will create nine residential lots for Habitat for Humanity on church land at 1135 East Hively Avenue and keep the Zion Missionary Church on the main parcel.

Staff told commissioners the preliminary plat met the subdivision control ordinance’s requirements and recommended approval under Indiana Code §36‑7‑4‑702, subject to the applicant completing mandatory technical review and submitting a final plat before any sales or construction permits. Staff said the nine Habitat lots total about 2.71 acres, with the remaining church parcel about 6.14 acres in the combined ±8.853‑acre proposal.

Crystal Welsh and Greg Conrad represented the project for Habitat for Humanity. Conrad, identified as president of Habitat in the record, said the organization has invested in nearby work over recent years and expects to start construction on these lots after infrastructure work is complete, with construction activity anticipated in 2027–2028. Conrad said, “in the course of five years, Habitat will have invested over $5 million within a quarter mile of this property,” describing the development as affordable, entry‑level homeownership targeted to lower‑moderate income households.

Neighbor Franklin Troyer, whose son lives within roughly 300 feet of the proposed site, asked whether Habitat homes would include basements and whether basements provide a storm shelter benefit. Staff and the petitioner said Habitat homes in the area are built on crawl spaces and that the city does not require basements for single‑family homes; storm shelter choices are a design decision for the developer and families.

Commissioners asked whether upcoming construction on Hively Street would affect the subdivision; staff said the project lies far enough from that work to avoid impacts. After public comment and questions, the commission voted to grant preliminary approval with the standard conditions requiring technical review, infrastructure approvals, and a final plat submission within 12 months unless an extension is requested.

Next steps: the applicant must complete technical review and submit materials for final plat approval before the plat committee; subsequent approvals for water, stormwater, sewer, grading and roadway construction will be required prior to issuance of permits.