Plan Commission

Meetings

  • 6:30 P.M.
  • 3rd Thursday of each month
  • Town Hall
    726 Broadway
    Chesterton, IN 46304

Membership

There are 7 members, selected in accordance with IC 36-7-4-207(b). Current members include:

  • Dan Marchetti
  • Thomas Kopko
  • James Kowalski
  • Fred Owens
  • Cassi Hammar
  • Sharon Darnell
  • Dane Lafata

Composition

  • 3 members, appointed by the Town Council, who must be either elected or appointed officials of the town or employees of the town
  • 4 citizen members, appointed by the Town Council president who may not be elected or appointed officials of any municipal, county, or state government
    • Not more than 2 of these appointees may be of the same political party
    • Citizen appointees must reside in the planning jurisdiction, have some knowledge of community affairs, awareness of the social and economic issues, and have an interest in planning

Partisan

No more than 2 citizen members may be of the same political party.

Secretary

The secretary for the commission is Gail Murawski.

Terms

Initially staggered, then each new appointment is for a 4-year term. Citizen appointees may be removed for cause.

Duties

Set forth more specifically in Section 302 (F) of the Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinance. Generally, the Plan Commission:

  • Makes recommendations to the Town Council regarding the adoption and update of the Comprehensive Plan
  • Makes recommendations to the Town Council regarding changes to the text of the Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinance
  • Makes recommendations to the Town Council regarding amendments to the zone map and the adoption or amendment of a planned unit development (PUD) district
  • Makes decisions regarding the approval of plats of subdivisions and reviews and enforces construction guarantees issued in conjunction with the approval of such subdivisions
  • Assigns street names and numbers
  • Has the authority to file suit to enforce violations of the Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinance
  • Has any other authority delegated by the Town Council