Development review committee approves two‑lot Schwanke subdivision with drainage and driveway conditions

The Porter County Development Review Committee voted Nov. 20 to approve primary plat approval for the Schwanke Homes Minor Subdivision (MI‑2025‑20), converting a proposed four‑lot plan into two lots for the property at 608 East U.S. Highway 6 in Jackson Township.

The committee’s approval, made by voice vote after staff and technical reviewers spoke, included several conditions aimed at protecting downstream neighbors and wetlands. Members required the final plat to show a longitudinal driveway elevation and a fixed distance around the culvert crossing to preserve calculated spillway behavior during heavy storms, a 50‑foot interior turning radius where two drive legs split and turnarounds where any private driveway leg exceeds 200 feet.

County surveyor David Timmons, representing the applicants Andrew and Ruth Schwanke, told the committee that engineering computations submitted to the stormwater department show “a net increase in the overtopping of that driveway by 6 tenths of an inch” under the modeled scenario, and that the plan reduces three existing culverts under the driveway to a single culvert with an orifice to control release rates and avoid disturbing wetlands.

County engineering staff advised the applicants to show any state highway driveway details on the site plan. “Just make sure that whatever they need to do to satisfy the state requirements is actually drawn on the site plan,” the county engineer said, urging that the construction match the approved drawings so the permits and built features align.

Committee member Kevin pressed the applicant on future risks, noting concerns about pipe sizing and long‑term behavior: “We don’t wanna deal with the mother of all storms again,” he said while asking whether the proposed configuration complies with county pipe‑sizing standards and whether future owners might raise driveway elevations and worsen downstream impacts.

Staff and the applicant addressed those concerns by agreeing to add a plat note and ingress/egress easement language that would limit elevation changes in the crossing area, and by placing drainage easements on the north portions of the lots to encompass the existing wetland area and direct runoff east toward Bauer Ditch. Fire and emergency access review also required a minimum turning radius and a turnaround near the proposed house location.

Chair summarized the conditions on the record before the motion: show the driveway longitudinal elevation and length at the culvert crossing; provide a 50‑foot radius at the junction of the two drive legs; add turnarounds where a drive exceeds 200 feet; avoid wetland impacts and show drainage easements; and include any required state highway coordination. Kevin moved to approve with those conditions; Mark seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

The approval follows two variances granted at a prior hearing related to lot frontages and accessory structure setbacks. Staff noted the final plat and drainage report must include the recorded elevations and the required details before construction permits are issued.