NextEra seeks variances for Porter County transmission equipment yard; staff flag drainage, sidewalk and septic issues

NextEra Energy Transmission Mid Atlantic asked Porter County planners on May 21 for informal review of a proposed 6,000-square-foot warehouse and outdoor laydown yard that would store spare monopole sections and conduit for an existing transmission line. The company requested variances from pedestrian network (UDO §7.25), fence-height and landscaping rules (UDO §5.25), a use variance for outdoor storage (UDO §5.32), and a special-exception for on-site well and septic service (UDO §5.62).

“The variances that we are requesting are practical and limited in nature,” said Sean Shortell, director of development for NextEra Energy Transmission Mid Atlantic, adding the yard would support an existing 345 kV transmission asset and be used intermittently for maintenance and emergency response. “This is essential for our operations as NEPA has a mandate from the North American Electric Reliability Council to have spares on-site in the event of an equipment failure.”

County technical staff flagged several outstanding engineering items that must be addressed before full conformance can be found. “Conformance has not been found,” said David, a county staff reviewer, who summarized five review comments including driveway/culvert details, a stone-detail clarification, stormwater conversions for CN calculations and coordination on driveway permitting. He asked the applicant to send a short cover email pointing to the revised pages so staff can complete a follow-up review within a week.

Panel members and staff also raised site-specific concerns. A county reviewer described soil borings and said, because the site lacks a viable drain outlet for a conventional septic field, the applicant proposes a permanent holding tank sized at three times the designed flow, with an alarm, a contract with a licensed wastewater hauler and submittal of pumping receipts. The reviewer noted that 2023 state legislation now allows holding tanks for some commercial uses.

Panel member Martin and the county surveyor (who provided written comments) requested coordinated review of nearby drainage improvements tied to a former golf course, saying prior work may affect stormwater outlets and road drainage. Martin also recommended the county require a road-use agreement to address the potential for damage when long monopole sections are delivered. “Having an ongoing agreement, in the same way that we have any large industry coming in that we anticipate future damages, would be my recommendation,” he said.

The sidewalk variance drew disagreement. NextEra said constructing a standalone sidewalk could create a safety issue by terminating without a connected pedestrian network; county staff and panel members urged the company to install sidewalks or otherwise guarantee future installation so the site connects to anticipated nearby residential development and Chesterton.

Applicants said the laydown yard footprint will use roughly 3 acres of a 15-acre parcel and that there would be an office within the warehouse but no daily employee presence. Staff noted the proposed front fence would be within the 50-foot front setback, and recommended softening the fence with vegetative screening to reduce visual impacts as the area develops.

There were no formal votes at the informal technical review. Staff said they will present the recorded comments and a verbal staff report at the Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m., where the public may comment and the BZA will consider the requested variances and special exception.