Michigan City board OKs NFR Institute restaurant with conditions; fire-suppression, water and state approvals required

The Michigan City Board of Zoning Appeals on April 14 approved a special-exception request allowing the NFR Institute of Technology’s cafeteria at 1602 Tennessee Street to operate as a restaurant, provided the group satisfies several safety and infrastructure conditions.

The board voted to grant petition B-105-26 after hearing presentations from the petitioner, Dr. Lesie Samuelson, planning staff and the fire marshal. Samuelson, who identified herself as a co‑founder of the NFR Institute and project representative, told the board the facility functions as a maker space with a certified commercial kitchen and that the restaurant use would support entrepreneurship and provide hands‑on training: “We have a commercial kitchen…we are asking special use exemption to be able to use as a restaurant,” she said.

The planning department…