Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Porter County approves Four Corners Winery rezoning to CM with written commitments
Summary
The board rezoned Four Corners Winery to CM commercial zoning with recorded written commitments limiting some CM permitted uses and adding 'raising a farm and exotic animals' to allow the owner's free‑range chickens; petitioner Deian Sasser and planning staff said the change avoids five‑year variance renewals.
Petitioner Deian Sasser, owner of Four Corners Winery, requested rezoning the operation from variance status to CM commercial zoning so the business would not need five‑year variance renewals. Planning staff presented written commitments that remove several normally permitted CM uses from the property; the commitments were described as a recorded document that would be filed with the ordinance.
Sasser said the operation has run under a variance since about 2011 and asked to add one agricultural use — raising a farm and exotic animals — to allow free‑range chickens and occasional wildlife rehabilitation. Planning staff and the attorney clarified that winery and retail bottle sales fit within combinations of agricultural, restaurant and retail low‑intensity uses and that a banquet hall/restaurant classification covers on‑site service.
Commissioners discussed the list of permitted and stricken uses and whether a winery or small production should have a specific category; staff said the combination of banquet hall, restaurant and retail low‑intensity adequately covers the operation. The board approved the rezoning with the written commitments and the owner’s requested addition for animals by voice vote (motion carried).
Next step: the recorded commitments will be filed with the ordinance, and the petitioner was advised to obtain the required drive permits and permits from county offices for entrances and related improvements.
