Porter County opens its zoning rules to a Nov. 19 hearing under the new state housing law

Porter County residents get a chance to weigh in on the county's zoning and land development rules Thursday, Nov. 19, at a Plan Commission hearing required by Indiana's new law meant to make homes easier to build.

The public hearing starts at 5:30 p.m. in Suite 205 of the County Administration Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. It covers the county's Unified Development Ordinance, zoning regulations and land development regulations "in accordance with Indiana House Enrolled Act 1001 (2026)," according to the commission's agenda, which carries the name of Executive Director W. Michael Jabo and lists no other business.

The Board of Commissioners' Oct. 27 agenda listed the scheduling of the hearing "as required by HEA 1001" to review the development ordinance and any zoning and land development rules "with the goal of increasing housing development."

What the state law asks

House Enrolled Act 1001, which Gov. Mike Braun signed in March and ceremonially signed April 13, took effect July 1. It requires each town, city and county in Indiana to evaluate barriers to new housing starts and report its progress to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported at the signing.

The law's author, state Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, said it limits regulations that inflate costs, including impact and development fees, complex and outdated building standards, and lengthy, unpredictable hearing and review processes, according to an April 14 release from House Republicans. It also requires local governments to report housing development figures to find and clear bottlenecks and makes it easier to turn commercial buildings into housing, the release says.

Critics said parts of the bill pre-empted local control, and the final version lets local governments opt out of certain provisions, the Capital Chronicle reported, while Miller called its data collection rules "scaffolding" for future action. Chesterton's Town Council set its own hearing under the law for Dec. 14.

Redevelopment Commission meets Thursday

The Porter County Redevelopment Commission meets at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Its agenda lists a discussion of a proposed expansion and new economic development areas, a professional services agreement with McColly Bennett Commercial Advantage for real estate services, and a Kiwanis Club storage unit. Staff will also update the commission on the county's comprehensive plan and the scheduling of its Plan Commission hearing.

Zoning appeals Nov. 18

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Suite 205. Its agenda lists four rural residential cases:

• An appeal seeking variances for a 72-by-48-foot accessory building in the front yard of a 4.47-acre lot at 497 E. Burdick Road in Jackson Township, standing 26 feet 9 inches where the code allows 20 feet.
• A renewal of the use variance for a grooming business on 10.2 acres at 403 W. State Road 130 in Union Township.
• A renewal of the use variance for Home Base Properties Inc.'s landscaping supply yard and mulch production operation, with outdoor storage of equipment and materials, on 4.27 acres on 1050 North in Liberty Township.
• A request to allow a home-based tree maintenance business to store a wood chipper, bucket truck, skid steer and debris on a 10.5-acre homestead at 254 W. U.S. 6 in Liberty Township. The request was on the county Development Review Committee's agenda for an informal review Nov. 5.

How to weigh in

Both the Plan Commission hearing and the zoning appeals meeting are open to the public at the Administration Center. People who need accommodations should call the Plan Commission office at 219-465-3540 at least 72 hours before the meeting, the agendas say. The Board of Commissioners next meets Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to its Oct. 27 agenda.