It will take years for an Indianapolis man to realize his vision to turn 25 acres of woodland off U.S. 20 in Porter into a mixed-use development that would feature a small goat farm alongside a farmer’s market, restaurant and townhouse apartments.
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So, it’s why the Porter Plan Commission will take its time to work through the plan of Kevin Spellacy that will eventually become a Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement, regulating how the project will be carried out.
The Plan Commission held its first formal public hearing on the project Wednesday, with about 25 curious residents in attendance. The hearing will resume on Aug. 19 as the commission asked Spellacy to present a more detailed site plan at the August meeting.
“We are going to do our due diligence,” Rob Albrecht-Mallinger, president of the Plan Commission, told members of the audience.
Town Attorney Chris Willoughby added that “there is a lot of process left” before the PUD is ready. The Plan Commission only makes a recommendation that is finally voted on by the Town Council.
Some potential neighbors — Wagner Road residents — voiced their concerns about the potential impact the project would have on them.
Others, like Leroy Flores, the proprietor of Leroy’s Hot Stuff, which would be next door, are supportive, noting it would be an “unusual” addition to the local Duneland area.
Paul Poparad said that as a Wagner Road resident, he has never been connected to the town’s water and sewer.
“Who is going to pay for it?” Poparad said, noting that Wagner Road residents could end up being forced to connect at a high price.
Another concern for Poparad is that only one entrance is proposed for the property when it probably needs two. He said that Wagner Road at U.S. 20 is already a dangerous intersection.
“My concern is that we are going to end up with another Enchanted Forest,” Poparad said, referring to a former waterpark on U.S. 20 at Waverly Road. Luxury apartments were proposed for the property, but that never came to fruition.
Albrecht-Mallinger asked Spellacy at the commission’s next meeting to present a more detailed site plan that would help address the questions that neighbors have. He also asked that Spellacy present estimates for how many people would be living in the area.
Spellacy told the commission that he plans to roll out his plan in phases, with the first part being a 52-unit townhouse apartment development. There would be 13 townhouses built in a farmhouse style that would each contain four apartments. He would also build four houses for short-term rentals.
Construction would start in 12 to 18 months on the property that, at its frontage, is next to Leroy’s Hot Stuff on U.S. 20. The more ambitious part of Spellacy’s plan — the small goat farm designed to be an agri-tourism attraction — is anticipated to take an additional three years at least.
“We’re really creating a village here,” Spellacy said.
Michael Barry, the town’s director of development/building commissioner, said that at some point, Spellacy might have to do a traffic study.
Barry said that the Indiana Department of Transportation would make the determination about how many entrances would be required.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.