To deny petition A18-001/RZ18-001 which requests annexation of three parcels of property to the City of Valparaiso and rezoning of the parcels of property from Porter County R2, Medium Density Single Family Residential and RL, Residential Lake zoning to GR, General Residential. The properties in question are located East of Campbell Street, South of Spectacle Road, and North of Andover Dr
Why is this important?
The suburban area of Valparaiso and lakeside residents of Porter County will be negatively affected by the annexation and rezoning of Kilmer Property located at 309 Spectacle Drive. The Kilmer’s are seeking annexation (Petition Number A18-001 and RZ18-001) for the purpose of using Valparaiso utilities and services in addition to General Residential rezoning. The General Residential zoning would allow high density development with a building plan of 40 single-family residential lots with a minimum lot size of 6,000 sq. ft. This development would affect the character of our neighborhoods and the health of our lakes. The property is located across the road from Rogers Lakewood Park which borders Loomis and Spectacle Lake with overflow into Flint Lake. The property is the last, large acre old-growth forest located South of Loomis Lake and is critical for sustaining complex ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Trees play an important role in regulating water flow, trapping sedimentation, air quality purification and mitigation of climate change. Deforestation and land development will increase erosion and water draining issues affecting many of the nearby residents including those surrounding our lake systems. Spectacle Drive is an old, undulating, narrow county road that is distressed and in need of reconstruction. The addition of 40+ lots could potentially increase traffic on Spectacle by 380 vehicles per day placing travelers in harm’s way. The request to annex this property to the city and change the future zoning land requirements is not compatible with the surrounding properties or to the neighborhood. An annexation of the Kilmer’s property into the City would ruin the character of our quiet neighborhoods.
