Informal pre‑application review: Good Oil seeks rezoning for gas station and business park at US‑30

At an informal pre‑application review Nov. 20, Porter County staff told representatives of Good Oil Company (care of McAlpine Consulting LLC) that a proposed rezone of an 8.18‑acre parcel at 597 West U.S. Highway 30 (Union Township) for a gas station, convenience store with fueling and multiple business park lots will require detailed geotechnical and stormwater planning, and likely coordination with state and utility authorities.

David Duran of Game Plan Solutions, representing the applicant, said the concept aims to put a convenience store with fuel service and six accessory business park properties on the corner parcel and that the team is seeking technical feedback ahead of a Dec. 10 planning commission rezoning hearing. “We believe that the zoning change makes that more in line with the goals and vision of the Porter County government,” Duran said.

County engineering staff cautioned that the site already has drainage running through it and that geotechnical borings will be important to determine whether any proposed detention areas are feasible. “Make sure that you’re reading [the geotech] because they’re also this property already has drains going through it,” the county engineer said, warning that designing detention and impervious areas without the geotech and coordination can be problematic.

Staff also flagged state regulatory changes affecting fueling operations, noting recent upgrades to secondary containment requirements that any fuel facility will need to meet. Dan (staff) reviewed the property’s septic history, noting prior septic systems in 1979 and 2000 and explaining that septic specifications and soil borings are reviewed by the state; where public sewer or water is within regulatory thresholds, applicants may be required to connect instead of building new septic systems.

Committee members urged the applicant to examine public utility alternatives early — including White Oak and Maryville conservancy districts or Indiana American — and noted that right‑of‑way, stacking, access permits and DOT coordination for turn lanes or tapers off US‑30 or 600 West will likely be required. Staff also said overlay district standards and site‑plan details will be examined later in the review process. Because this was an informal review, the committee took no action; the applicant is targeting the Dec. 10 planning commission meeting for a rezoning recommendation by the planning commission and, if successful, later consideration by the county commissioners.