A bid to rezone land on Ind. 49 for a future hotel/restaurant, which could allow the owner to post an advertising sign, has been rejected by the town of Porter.
Vyomesh Patel of Munster had submitted the request to the Porter Plan Commission to rezone the 3.1-acre property on Ind. 49, across from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, to business from residential.
The Porter Plan Commission at its September meeting recommended against approving the zoning change. The Porter Town Council on Tuesday night unanimously decided to follow the Plan Commission’s lead.
Patel, under the name of Aria Hospitality LLC, had purchased the land for $277,000 on Feb. 9, 2022. Vishal Patel, Vyomesh’s cousin, said at the Plan Commission meeting in August that the intent was to build a hotel, but the economy paused those plans.
Vishal Patel is the owner of the Spring House complex on North Mineral Springs Road in Porter, which includes the inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. In December 2023, the sudden closing of the North Mineral Springs Road bridge caused a continuing hardship for his business because it blocked traffic from U.S. 20.
In August 2024, the Patels decided to put a sign up on the Ind. 49 land, advertising the Spring House complex. The town quickly shut that down, noting that a rezoning would have to be obtained first. Even if Patel had been successful, he would have had to obtain permission from the Indiana Department of Transportation for the sign.
The sign is still up on the Patel property; it’s covered, though the advertisement can be faintly seen.
The Plan Commission, in its recommendation to the Town Council, cited a number of reasons why the rezoning request shouldn’t be granted.
A hotel/restaurant was seen as incompatible with the residential makeup of the neighborhood.
“The requested change in zoning will be injurious or detrimental to the surrounding property values,” the plan commission said. In addition, the plan commission found that the rezoning would “disrupt or destroy any neighborhood plan.”
Council also gave its approval for Michael Barry, the town’s building commissioner and development director, to proceed with a joint application with Chesterton for a state Community Crossings grant to repave South 23rd Street.
The two towns share the boundary street and the proposed repaving would occur between Wood and Washington streets.
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The total paving project is expected to cost $450,539. The grant would pay 80% of the paving cost as the two towns would divide up the $90,107.80 match.
Barry said that installing a sidewalk at Marquette Street and South 23rd Street would also be part of the project.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.