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player ready...A plan to turn 25 acres of woodland off U.S. 20 into a mixed-use development featuring a small goat farm as a tourist attraction received unanimous approval from the Porter Plan Commission Wednesday.
Kevin Spellacy and the Plan Commission spent four meetings since June reviewing the proposal for a Planned Unit Development agreement for the property, which lies behind Leroy’s Hot Stuff off of U.S. 20.
The Plan Commission’s approval is only the first step. The final decision on whether Spellacy will receive the PUD allowing him to proceed with construction will be made by the Porter Town Council.
Spellacy was obviously happy with the commission’s action.
“It’s been a detailed, in-depth, long process. But we’re moving forward,” Spellacy said after the meeting’s close.
There were conditions attached to the Plan Commission’s vote, recommending that the Town Council approve the PUD.
The biggest issue for commission members, and some neighbors, is the impact on traffic.
The commission asked for a traffic study to be performed by an Indiana firm that would show what the impact would be on U.S. 20 if Spellacy achieves all phases of his plan.
Spellacy hired a firm from Texas to do a traffic study. He said that study found that an average of 11,452 vehicles daily passed by the U.S. 20 property and that the development would only add about 3% more.
The concern expressed by area residents is that the nearby Oak Hill Road and Wagner Road intersections of U.S. 20 are already dangerous and that the development would create more potential for crashes.
Spellacy said that he believes the designed entrance to his property would provide better sight lines. He noted the issues with the other two intersections stem from the angle at which the roads meet.
Another condition set forth by the commission is that Spellacy must comply with the town’s code concerning signage for the property.
Spellacy said he would like to put a digital billboard on the south end of his property by Interstate 94.
Michael Barry, the town’s director of development and building commissioner, said that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) would decide whether a billboard would be permitted.
The commission also asked that Spellacy in the PUD would provide more detail about the phases of his construction plan.
Spellacy said he would start by building townhouse apartments and a few short-term rental homes.
Eventually, the plan calls for a small-scale goat farm alongside a farmer’s market, restaurant and event center. His aim is to make it an “agri-tourism” attraction.
The land has unusual topography as it features three ravines and slopes downward from U.S. 20. Spellacy said he wants to retain most of the woodlands and natural appearance of the property.
Spellacy, who calls himself an entrepreneur, has said he first considered his idea for a location around the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis before settling on land near the Indiana Dunes National and State parks.
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Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.