Council approves easement vacation for pool/retaining wall and advances downtown Ready 2.0 pathway plans

The Chesterton Town Council approved Ordinance 2026-03 on second and final reading to vacate portions of a utility and drainage easement at 207 Torino Drive after a brief public hearing. Petitioners, represented by Greg Babcock and property contractor Andrew Good Pastor, said the two-foot easement vacations would resolve an encroachment tied to a permitted retaining wall and pool; engineering staff reported the vacation would not impair existing drainage or utilities.

"Key is you got a permit," a staff member said, noting the pool and retaining wall had been permitted and staff had reviewed drainage impacts. The council opened the public hearing, heard no opposition, closed the hearing and approved the ordinance by voice vote.

Separately, engineering staff presented the Indian Boundary Plaza Drive sidewalk proposal and a Ready 2.0 arts-and-cultural grant application. The sidewalk design would improve ADA access on the south side of Indian Boundary and add a crossing to connect to Plaza Drive; staff recommended proceeding with a design contract (the lowest responsive bidder quoted approximately $61,128).

Staff also described a Ready 2.0 grant (lead partner YMCA) to build an eight-foot multi-use pathway linking the healthy living campus to the downtown Trackside Art District, with art features, lighting and wayfinding. The project would use TIFF funds as the local match if awarded; council authorized staff to proceed with finalizing the grant submittal and the design procurement.

The votes advanced a land-use housekeeping ordinance and kept the town moving on sidewalk design and a regional arts grant intended to improve connectivity between community assets and downtown businesses.