Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Porter County DRC approves Bartholomew plan for two barns, allows permits for non-restroom building and driveway
Summary
The Porter County Development Review Committee approved Steve and Kelly Bartholomew’s development plan to add two agricultural structures and two cabins on a 19.12-acre parcel, allowing building permits for the non-restroom barn and driveway while septic design for the restroom-equipped barn is finalized.
The Porter County Development Review Committee on a voice vote approved the Bartholomew family’s development plan for two agricultural buildings and two cabins on a 19.12-acre property in Center Township.
Applicant Steve Bartholomew told the committee he and his wife Kelly are "seeking permission to build the 2 agricultural structures," describing a small-scale farm operation with pasture, pasture-raised poultry for a farmstand and tiny-home Airbnb units. He said the structures are intended to "be a peaceful place for people to stay" and emphasized the operation would not be a large-scale stockyard. County engineering staff read an engineering conformance letter dated 07/29/2026 that limited approval to the plan showing two cabins, one barn and an agricultural accessory structure and warned that any impervious area beyond that configuration would require additional review.
Staff and committee members discussed sequencing around septic design and driveway construction. County health and engineering staff confirmed the state issued a technical data sheet for two cabins and a restroom in the larger barn and delegated septic design review to Porter County; the applicants’ designer (Dave Timmons) will prepare the septic plans. Committee members and highway staff also raised driveway and culvert concerns and encouraged the applicants to ensure driveway width and culvert details meet highway requirements. The committee moved to approve the development plan "as planned," the motion passed on a voice vote, and staff explained building permits for a structure without restrooms could proceed following county sign-off while septic-permitted work for the restroom-equipped barn awaits final septic design and approval.
Next steps: the applicants may pull permits for the accessory (non-restroom) barn and the driveway after the required sign-offs; the septic design for the restroom-equipped barn must be submitted to county health staff and approved before that barn’s building permit can be issued.
