Cedar Lake grants waiver for west side development
At their meeting on Feb. 4, the Cedar Lake Town Council approved a waiver on a moratorium to M&L Adventures, LLC for a new development on the west side of town.
M&L Adventures plans to use the existing pole barn structure on the 1.683 acre parcel of land located at 10715 W. 133rd Avenue for a dance studio, and will build a commercial building towards the front of the lot that will have space for several units for commercial use.
Council deferred the wavier at their Jan. 21 meeting to get an idea of what to expect in regards to the total water usage for the new development as well as ensuring water quality for existing customers.
Nathan Vis of Vis Law of Cedar Lake, the attorney representing M&L, noted the request came back from the town’s consultant as favorable, and the consultant told Vis that it was beneficial to get some water flowing through the 15-inch water main to avoid allowing the water to become stagnant.
Vis said the town is still working on the town’s definition for high water usage. He noted that his client “wants responsible development,” and he spoke with town attorney David Austgen about the clarification as to what kind of businesses are to be expected in the middle of the new building, such as coffee shops or restaurants. Vis said he and Austgen were “still developing the document” but was of the understanding they could move forward with the waiver with stipulations council may impose.
Austgen added there would be supplemental agreements in the PUD project plan with a development agreement that would “encompass this definition, objective criteria, etc.”
Kevin Baldwin of Christopher B. Burke Engineering sent an email addressing the flow projections and the water usage on Feb. 4, and was read by councilman Rich Thiel.
In the email, Baldwin acknowledged the flow projections were minimal, but “useful for the current system.” He said the greater water demand in that location “provides a better water turnover rate of the larger 16-inch water main located on W. 133rd Avenue, thus improving the water quality in the area.”
Thiel said the projected businesses and subsequent water usage would include one pole barn at 2 gallons per minute, four rental offices at 4 gallons per minute, one restaurant at 5 gallons per minute and two drive-thru businesses on either side of the building at 5 gallons per minute for a total of 16 gallons per minute, or 23,040 gallons per day.
Austgen asked council to enter the potential listed uses for the building, the water usage rates and the Feb. 4 email from Baldwin into the record prior to approval so it is passed on to the plan commission upon approving the waiver.
The criteria, Austgen continued, would also be “the beginning of the identification of objective criteria for establishing the methods and amounts that are acceptable or not acceptable.”
“Right now, this gives us the start of a foundation for that objective criteria,” Austgen said.
The motion to grant the waiver passed 7-0, with the contingency that all land use has been received and approved, and to add Baldwin’s email into the record, all of which will be sent to the plan commission.
The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 18.