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Board allows Victory Christian Academy to use on-site septic and well as school prepares to expand
Summary
Porter County planning staff and the academy said Indiana Department of Health and IDEM reviews are underway. The board granted a special exception to allow the school to continue operating on septic and well while the campus expands; neighbors raised unrelated concerns about litter and traffic during public comment.
Porter County planning staff and school representatives told the Board of Zoning Appeals that Victory Christian Academy is seeking approval to continue using on-site septic and well systems as it builds an addition and expands enrollment.
Kevin Cororos of McMahon Associates presented for the school and said the site has used septic and a private well since the school’s founding and that engineering work and reviews are in progress. “So, we saw DRC for recommendation approval back in April 23rd. I believe they recommended favorable opinion to you guys,” Cororos said, describing soil-solution submittals to the Indiana Department of Health and communications with IDEM about the existing well.
Neighbors used the public-comment period to raise supervision, trash and traffic concerns. Robert Nichols and others said they have experienced recurring litter and balls crossing into their yards during recess. The board and staff clarified that the hearing’s scope was limited to the septic and well special exception and that operational complaints are addressed through other county processes.
Tracy Banker, who identified herself as the board chair at Victory Christian Academy, said the school has 387 students systemwide and about 188 at the campus in question; she said the school expects to add roughly 25 students per grade over coming years as enrollment grows. “We are currently at 387 students … we are 188 students approximately in that building,” Banker said.
After staff and the applicant discussed soil borings, IDEM comments and the institutional zoning that triggers state-level review, a board member made a motion to allow the septic and well for the academy’s expansion. The motion was seconded and carried in open session.
The board’s action authorized the special exception for on-site sanitary and water services as presented, subject to any state approvals or technical conditions required by Indiana Department of Health and other reviewing agencies. The board noted that drainage, traffic and other operational complaints raised by neighbors would be handled through separate county or school channels rather than in the septic/well special-exception proceeding.
The school and its engineers will proceed with the state review process for commercial septic and the county’s plan-review steps for the building addition.
