Porter County panel approves two primary plats for Raymond G with conditions on drive access and pond maintenance

The Porter County planning body approved two primary plats submitted by Raymond G for adjoining parcels on County Road 250 West, granting initial approval for MI 2025-28 (G South) and MI 2025-29 (G North) while imposing conditions to address access, drainage and shared maintenance responsibilities.

“I’m Ari Goth. … we’re here to receive approval for primary plat for a minor subdivision,” the applicant’s representative said at the hearing, introducing the three-lot south parcel and the two-lot north parcel. County staff told the board the projects previously obtained some variances in 2020 but that the secondary plat had expired; the applicant reapplied in 2025 and submitted updated engineering materials.

Susan, a county planning staff member, summarized staff findings and required next steps: engineering reviews indicate outstanding elements of common infrastructure must be completed and inspected before a secondary plat can be issued. County engineering reviewers flagged several items for the record, including the need for contour drawings to evaluate culvert and ditch adequacy, verification of vision‑clearance triangles at the drive intersection with County Road 250 West, and confirmation of appropriate roadway material on the private drive.

The board said recycled asphalt or loose stone millings are not acceptable as the finished surface for the private drive and asked that detailed construction specifications be shown on the plans. County staff and the highway reviewer recommended an acceleration/deceleration taper consistent with county road standards at the driveway entrance; that work will require a right‑of‑way permit and, if necessary, deed dedication or bonding to meet county standards.

Board members also required a binding shared‑maintenance agreement (to be recorded on the secondary plat or via an easement instrument) that assigns responsibility among lot owners for upkeep of the private drive and the on‑site pond. Staff noted conservation and drainage easements related to the pond are already recorded in the project materials, and the board directed the applicant to resolve any suspected drain‑tile or outfall issues during the engineering review.

The board voted to approve both primary plats subject to the stated conditions and inspections. The approval allows the applicant to move forward toward secondary platting once the listed conditions are satisfied and follow‑up inspections confirm compliance. Staff explained that applicants may post performance bonds for public improvements to proceed with a secondary plat more quickly, but the secondary plat will not be issued until required work is completed, inspected, or bonded in accordance with county policy.

The board also noted a statutory public‑comment waiting period applies before finalization of the secondary plat; applicants must satisfy engineering comments or the public‑comment timeframe, whichever comes later, before the two‑year shelf life for a primary plat begins.

Next steps: the applicant must provide contour and drainage detail sheets, submit construction specifications that meet county roadway standards (no recycled asphalt millings for the private drive), obtain required right‑of‑way permits for the acceleration/deceleration taper, record the shared‑maintenance agreement or include equivalent language on the secondary plat, and arrange inspections with county engineering staff. Once those items are confirmed or bonded, the county will process the secondary plat application.