The Porter County Board of Commissioners meeting got huffy Tuesday when residents voiced their displeasure over a proposed ordinance regulating barndominiums, and Board President Jim Biggs took flak for how he handled complaints he had denigrated Democrats and the mentally ill.
Commissioners approved on first reading an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that would allow barndominiums in ag and rural residential zones, but not before two residents spoke vehemently with support from some audience members against the proposed 100-foot side setbacks.
Commissioners received an 8-0 vote from the Porter County Plan Commission to recommend adoption of the ordinance. Second reading is expected at the next commissioners meeting Aug. 26.
Porter County Director of Development & Storm Water Management Mike Jabo explained the definition of a barndominium.
“If it does exceed 50% (storage or utility use), it’s going to be defined as a barndominium,” he said.
The utility space may not exceed 75%. “We thought that was a nice cut off,” Jabo added, explaining the proposed amendment had been six months in the making.
Joe Sparks, who lives in the 400 block of W. 100 N in unincorporated Valparaiso, took exception to the minimum 250-foot lot width required to qualify for placement of a barndominium without a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
“I have a five-acre lot and it’s only 160 feet wide. I’m in a very non-residential area,” Sparks said, adding that he should be able to do what he wants with his property, including building a big barn.
Jabo told him he could go before the BZA to request a variance on the setback. Sparks replied that he shouldn’t have to ask permission from a government body to build on his land.
Realtor Mary Willis of Westville agreed. “We always tell the buyers, ‘Purchase at your own risk,’” she said of any adjacent landowners. “A 20-foot setback would be plenty.”
Seeking variances, she said, is “still hindering” what property owners want to do.
Jabo has explained that barndominiums can be hulking compared to a traditional house, and the farther away a structure is, the smaller it appears. Willis asked commissioners if Jabo could modify the proposed ordinance at their request, and Biggs said he could, and commissioners also could vote it down.
“If we do nothing, we have a problem here and it’s growing by the year,” said Biggs, R-North.
During public comment, Kathy Watts of Valparaiso took the floor to read a statement regarding Biggs’ response to her complaints of his liking a cartoon on Facebook that mocked both those seeking mental health care and liberals.
The cartoon shows two people standing outside a building with a Mental Health Center sign. The caption below reads, “How to easily find more liberal friends.”
“Mr. Biggs, you may not want to hear about integrity from me, but perhaps you need to,” Watts said. She said Biggs brushed off her complaints. “His response, unfortunately, says a lot about how he sees his role,” she said.
“I find it a little odd that you’re stalking anything that I do,” he replied.
“You’re a public official,” a woman in the audience shouted.
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“I don’t have a whole lot of respect for you, Kathy. I don’t,” Biggs said. “I’ll like whatever I feel like liking on my personal Facebook. You’re not going to spin this because my record shows how I view mental illness in this county. I don’t give two hoots what you think.”
With that, he slammed the gavel and closed the meeting. People in the audience commented that another woman was waiting to speak at the microphone. In the end, the audience got the last word.
“Get your toddler biscuits, you baby!” said one woman as she slammed a box of Girl Scout cookies on the table in front of the dais.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.