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Planning commission grants continuance for Crestwood subdivision after residents raise drainage concerns
Summary
The Michigan City Planning Commission granted a continuance for a proposed Crestwood Drive/Southwind Drive subdivision after commissioners and neighbors flagged persistent drainage and flooding issues; staff said no formal drainage studies had yet been submitted and encouraged the developer to complete required engineering reviews before the next hearing on May 26.
The Michigan City Planning Commission on April 28 granted a continuance for petition P926, a proposed primary plat for the Crestwood Drive and Southwind Drive subdivision, after commissioners and nearby residents raised repeated concerns about drainage on the site.
Dr. Edwards, presiding as chair, led the discussion after the commission noted the petitioner had requested an additional continuance. Staff said that if the continuance were granted it would be the developer's second. Several commissioners reported visiting the site and described visible flooding and poor road conditions after storms, and staff confirmed that no formal drainage studies had yet been produced for review.
Neighbors raised detailed concerns during the public-comment period. Resident Tommy Kavik of 1316 Ohio Street supported development generally but warned of persistent local drainage problems; another resident, Guy Carl of 122 Crestwood Drive, said the property regularly holds standing water and questioned whether existing sanitary and storm infrastructure would be adequate if grades are altered. "You can't even provide adequate storm drainage for what you already got there," Kavik said during public comment.
Staff and the applicant told the commission the petition is at the primary-plat stage, and that technical reviews — including engineering, sanitary, and stormwater design — occur later in the process. The applicant was told to complete required materials and staff reiterated that future approvals of building plans would require an adequate stormwater design accepted by the Sanitary District and the city's consultants before construction.
The commission voted to continue consideration of P926 to the May 26 meeting; commissioners said the continuance will allow the developer to provide the technical studies needed to evaluate drainage, while some commissioners indicated they would be reluctant to grant further continuances without substantive new materials.
The next procedural step is for the developer to submit the engineering and sanitary documentation requested by staff; the petition will return to the commission at its May 26 meeting for further consideration.
