[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6145658,"mediaKeyId","5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8","parentId",5532305,"title","Commission clears Lennar’s Swanson Trails final plan and secondary plat with standard contingencies","audioSeconds",525,"startMs",4476000,"endMs",5001000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8&start=4476&end=5001","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8/thumbnail_4476000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6145658/Portage-City/Porter-County/Indiana/Commission-clears-Lennars-Swanson-Trails-final-plan-and-secondary-plat-with-standard-contingencies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145658-39a11908b0dc22bd3d6192f69560f743/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884735&Signature=j3UxbnV997aK~iiCLxOuxfq75ITldaBFEbM-T~lMMzSRBZQI3xzcQO~VDT2sLfgpM-WOF2GoNN1XIWQU-iapYkBlAqOzysld9J1KoIGtjd1iUtpdh2tGpq8uRVXf3Cr6lWsFOGw5AeAphtlhiq1CYs6--iwP51qP0~B3G4RDJQWisl6XXEfTCrVJ2vwMYmlyLuIbU-tGqemM8Ij5YhVRyl0x74qd9swOjP76ZbubfJ6ZHc3nPDzIsIpzxWa84qjMbgMNyCs7jgBJyqh6Ts5G61kJrTfCQPPDiaR3uGgymOX3iYUFA1kW~YI8WYy5x1~-H1~53XcIaLtNKonRusjLNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Portage, IN","date","2025-08-05T16:12:45.68Z","article","The City of Portage Planning Commission on Aug. 4 approved the final development plan and secondary plat for Swanson Trails, a Lennar Homes residential development, subject to standard contingencies including staff review of landscaping and recordation of easements and bonds.
Todd Leath, an attorney representing Lennar, and company representatives told the commission the plan is the product of multiple rounds of public and staff review dating to late 2023 and that the city council previously adopted a rezoning ordinance in March that established the concept plan and preliminary development plan. Leath said the project’s concept was revised after public meetings to enlarge the stand of trees preserved along Swanson Road and to reduce curb cuts.
The commission approved the final development plan on a motion with contingencies that landscaping plans be reviewed and approved by staff, a final development plan be recorded at the Porter County Recorder’s Office, off-site easement agreements with National Transmission be noted on the secondary plat, bonding be completed per the City of Portage Subdivision Control Ordinance and that required permits and fees be satisfied. Commissioners then approved the secondary plat with the same list of contingencies except for the landscaping review, which is not required for recording.
The petitioner’s attorney thanked the commission and noted the project had been adjusted after neighborhood input and an informal citizen meeting that involved the mayor and neighbors. The approvals clear the way for recordation and subsequent construction activities once the listed contingencies are satisfied by the developer and confirmed by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","COP Planning Commission Mtg 08-04-25","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved Lennar Homes’ final development plan and secondary plat for Swanson Trails, requiring staff review of landscaping, recordation of easements, bonding and standard fees and permits. The zoning and concept plan had been approved earlier by council following changes to preserve trees and reduce curb cuts.","taxTitle","Portage City, Porter County, Indiana","taxId",53966,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6145663,"Planning commission approves Ladybug Laundry site plan with utilities inspection contingency",476,3898000,4374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8&start=3898&end=4374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8/thumbnail_3898000.jpg","/articles/6145663/Portage-City/Porter-County/Indiana/Planning-commission-approves-Ladybug-Laundry-site-plan-with-utilities-inspection-contingency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145663-2c5ca928486b3f80ddf4daf6cb30edcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884735&Signature=GDpFffjDO07ugAoQgzzU3n4d7F8Jon1kF5cBadb4WGqcHToQmZgJY0t1WkZ3E0-p-rbgs3mknOwDNnxX9-8BkTetfDHm6hqbMpCQyE4LPJSvcodEJqj1BbOjUJ5nsSl~xC6pkYyIOKgYgkN~3Qe8U87bNu2AlLPLpVsroVkdTz1lzv9s9gCdz8gtgVbKKhyVpSy2BdSvdahcuByp5qyDYiEpMBJjgfK1GQcoqBMITKvVRqywiCW7gQ~FUWui9GmRzzBOBaYxGJFizBWHbCHjAE~hAGLGnupAYsJ5a75Vds4DixaRFPXThxj0URMprFsPeD9hT0H1h4P-GKqhhXdSvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Portage Planning Commission on Aug. 4 approved a site plan for a new Ladybug Laundry subject to a contingency that Portage Utilities inspect the sanitary lateral connection.
The petitioner, represented by Adam McAlpine of McAlpine Consulting, said the project will redevelop a parcel at the northwest corner of Sunrise and Willow Creek and that engineering matters including water, sewer and stormwater have been coordinated with city staff and the city engineer. McAlpine said the property required rezoning earlier in the process and that variances approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals were already in place.
Commissioners questioned whether water or sewer work would interrupt traffic on Willow Creek. Staff and the petitioner said the water service will be bored under Willow Creek and that a sewer tap exists nearby; with the proposed connections the site will be self-contained and should not interrupt water service to adjacent properties. City staff advised that the sanitary tap should be exposed and inspected by Portage Utilities prior to final acceptance.
The commission moved to approve the plans contingent upon Portage Utilities inspecting the sanitary lateral and confirming the tap; the motion passed on roll call with unanimous recorded support from commissioners present. Staff indicated that construction could proceed once City utilities’ inspection and any remaining engineering details are completed and a construction stormwater permit is obtained.","The commission approved a site plan for a Ladybug Laundry at Sunrise and Willow Creek subject to Portage Utilities inspecting the sanitary lateral; staff said the sewer connection will be bored beneath Willow Creek and the site will be self-contained.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6145668,"Commission approves Melton Road gas station site plan with city utility and photometric contingencies",788,3046000,3834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8&start=3046&end=3834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8/thumbnail_3046000.jpg","/articles/6145668/Portage-City/Porter-County/Indiana/Commission-approves-Melton-Road-gas-station-site-plan-with-city-utility-and-photometric-contingencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145668-ad48c68caf4c80cf34c7e41bd2b62624/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884735&Signature=XMbry4QokJt3PU0DfT03wmLmkDQ~iS~D0NprtStK6WwY86wVk1euoorllFdvLYaC3AeHAZQg2Z4G57TuURbfpr845EZkAUcZAJOtTbfo7k8pq~9jn-1j6ZkaabO8kr3Qvv-iRJbhw7yQvwPdvd4CCQZulY62ZkpxiwEOj7BWY~Wh9cyIrhZ6-PtBVflrafTWRxPcXZnSVoKKx~1ff0RfWK3hQaxcCM51q8gCewNHsWJ1cMgO1rlplZB9ME-5-ECMcl1RBEGd03QPH2VxtJONAd3Rjzp77eUu-1tmAievZNgx6tLUGIYxksCZTYG-oNZgItl2eWf2f84hFXyHhrffxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portage Planning Commission on Aug. 4 approved a site plan for a new gas station and convenience store at 6264 Melton Road, authorizing the developer to proceed after the commission attached contingencies including an updated photometric plan and city installation of utility mains for the site.
The commission approved site-plan SP-05-25 for the property, which the petitioner described as the redevelopment of an existing Marathon station into a new convenience-store-and-fueling site at the northeast corner of Indiana Highway 249 and Melton Road/US 20.
Developer representative Kevin Kouros of McMahon Associates and owner Max Singh said the project will rework the site’s frontage and utilities while coordinating with INDOT on entrances. Kouros told commissioners the city and developer are working to move overhead utilities underground and to finalize easements. He said the project will widen the sidewalk to six feet along the building frontage and that final photometric plans would be provided and would likely be a contingency of approval.
Commissioners asked about site details including whether the station would operate 24 hours (the owner said yes), whether the convenience store would include hot food (the owner said grab-and-go items and a pizza franchise were planned, but not necessarily 24-hour hot food), and whether the site would include electric vehicle chargers (the owner said three or four chargers were planned on the north side). The owner also said the pumps would offer ethanol blends such as E15 and E85 “depending on availability.” He said security would include “35 to 40” cameras.
During the motion the commission added a minor design request: bicycle racks to accommodate future local trail connections. The commission’s approval was conditioned on the developer providing an updated photometric plan acceptable to staff and connecting to sanitary and water mains that the city will install for the petitioner; the motion also noted the inclusion of bicycle racks as a minor plan element.
The motion passed on a roll call vote with unanimous recorded support from commissioners present. Staff will review the photometric plan and confirm utility connections before permitting and construction.","The Planning Commission approved a site plan for a new gas station and convenience store at 6264 Melton Road after developers agreed to provide an updated photometric plan, connect to sanitary and water lines to be installed by the city, and add bike racks.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6145673,"Planning commission approves Sandy Trails plat with tighter HOA covenants, agency approvals required",3231,134000,3365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8&start=134&end=3365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5532305-00c9ff5ff10ca3fc9fa958790c3809e8/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6145673/Portage-City/Porter-County/Indiana/Planning-commission-approves-Sandy-Trails-plat-with-tighter-HOA-covenants-agency-approvals-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145673-a3bbd74250e401c74061e855f9ccf286/orig.mp4?Expires=1770884735&Signature=PWvnVsQGI4bt63S81tYsVHMxZMKOocQC-qE0px2WDsNKGxDaGYjwy8EbX2kCgm8Bmr1rDpkb3toTz2mQQLib172mlS69ZITJdaTfVKik53ezv3RIcGZCKylThAgniBHoZRJwY~OWgklBGXBMeA335DNZ4AyfSKkT-T4P3gYWPXgF9yPt5Y337SwTi2qm0Bzfa2douyEKkqiCrEx9HFcefcTlVvUEByNoUaG32~2fkCW43jKcCkhPj5Bb2FYX8jgnC1ridz2i4AK4wzCN3pE~0y4iAv3pLtwCFIFyn0TFLHNGSbJ6SAzfa73Fsrk~nZdBBPIWjU9tzm1NnqyNEkcBaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Portage Planning Commission on Aug. 4 approved a primary plat amendment for the Sandy Trails subdivision that relocates the subdivision entrance to comply with a request from the Indiana Department of Transportation and imposes several conditions on the developer.
The action followed a public hearing and a separate vote to exclude an additional lot that the developer had proposed adding to the plat.
The commission approved the primary plat with contingencies that the developer submit updated homeowner association covenants by Sept. 1, provide the Indiana Department of Transportation approval letter for the US Highway 6 entrance, provide an IDEM approval letter where applicable, and use a professional forester’s tree-species list in selecting trees for the subdivision. The vote to approve the primary plat carried in a roll call after discussion of covenants, management and INDOT’s requested road alignment.
At the start of the hearing the petitioner’s representative said the entrance and driveway realignment were being made at INDOT’s request. Attorney McClure told the commission the change is driven by INDOT and that other prior approvals for the development “are still intact.” Applicant representative Chris Salaitis described the additional parcel the developer sought to add as an “engineering oversight.”
Resident Lou Tirock, 3478 Debbie Lane, objected during public comment, saying the hearing felt perfunctory and that neighborhood input would not affect a project he characterized as moving forward regardless of resident concerns. “After due consideration, it occurs to me that this is a done deal, that input from local constituents and community members really do not matter,” Tirock said.
Commissioners and staff discussed the status of restrictive covenants tied to a prior Board of Zoning Appeals approval and whether the covenants obligated a third-party management company to maintain common areas. City staff confirmed the covenants had been approved and signed by the city, and the commission asked the developer to tighten language requiring a declarant or third-party management company to manage snow removal and lawn care. The commission also separately considered—and voted on—a motion not to include the extra lot the developer had proposed after discussion that the lot had not been part of the original public hearing and had been omitted from earlier public notices.
The commission’s primary-plat motion included four explicit contingencies: the updated covenants, the INDOT letter, any required IDEM correspondence, and compliance with a forester’s recommended species list for plantings. The motion passed on roll call with one commissioner recorded as voting no and the remainder voting yes.
The decision allows the developer to proceed toward recordation of the plat, subject to the conditions the commission imposed. The commission asked staff to receive and confirm the revised covenants and the required agency letters before the developer proceeds to final recordation.","The Portage Planning Commission approved a primary plat amendment for the Sandy Trails subdivision after a public hearing on an INDOT-requested entrance realignment and debate over adding one lot. The commission required updated covenants, INDOT and IDEM approval letters and a tree-planting list as conditions.","actionData","errors"]

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