The developer of the Easton Park subdivision remains under a stop-work order from Chesterton’s Storm Water Management Board, which on Monday levied additional fines of $7,250 for code violations regarding stormwater drainage.
Town officials initially issued a stop-work order on July 30. It may be a while before work will be allowed to resume on the third phase of a plan that would eventually build 500 housing units off of Porter County Road 250 E on the town’s east side.
Town Engineer Mark O’Dell and Assistant Town Engineer Matt Gavelek said that Olson Farm LLC, the developer, has failed to resolve seven of eight conditions outlined by the town on Aug. 17 before the board would consider lifting the stop-work order.
More Top Picks Best Cooling Memory Foam Pillows
The board held a hearing at its Aug. 17 meeting with Olson Farm LLC representatives along with residents and town officials who testified about flooding and runoff issues at the construction site.
Associate Town Attorney Chuck Parkinson said as a result of the hearing, the town concluded that for 53 days, the developer had violated the town code by failing to achieve 70% soil stabilization on site.
During the Aug. 17 hearing, there was testimony that a large area was excavated, contrary to directions from town officials. Grass seed was planted to stabilize the soil but much of it failed to take root due to the unusually wet summer.
In addition, the town found there were six separate occasions where adjacent property owners were flooded with sediment-laden water. The six days of flooding occurred between December 2025 and August 2026.
Altogether, the 59 violations totalled $7,250 in fines, which the Storm Water Board approved.
There were no representatives from Olson Farm LLC at Monday’s Storm Water Board meeting.
Board member Victoria Wittig noted the town’s review also found that Olson Farm LLC was incorrect in attempting to blame flooding problems on a blocked culvert off-site.
Eric Gastevich of ATG Real Estate Development LLC, who oversees Olson Farm LLC, stated repeatedly during the Aug. 17 hearing that the town was at fault.
However, the town has no record of requests from the developer concerning the culvert before July 2026.
The culvert is owned by Porter County and through cooperation between the town, county and developer, the culvert has since been cleared.
The town and the developer have also cooperated to get rid of a beaver dam, which town engineers acknowledge was a factor in flooding on Tanglewood Lane on June 17.
More Top Picks Best Anti Theft Travel Backpacks
Still, there are several unresolved issues involving the site, O’Dell and Gavelek said.
Olson Farm has failed to achieve soil stabilization on-site and has yet to propose engineering solutions that would prevent future flooding. The developer has also failed to provide maintenance records to the town, has yet to install a berm to help prevent flooding, and has not installed a pond skimmer at one location. The town also said that one pond skimmer installed was inadequate.
O’Dell and Gavelek said that they are still investigating the flooding complaints made by residents during the Aug. 17 meeting.
Wittig complimented the town’s two engineers, saying she appreciates their efforts to address the residents’ complaints.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.