A developer hoping to build an equestrian residential subdivision in the panhandle region of Merrillville presented revised plans to the town’s plan commission Tuesday, with more houses on smaller lots.
“I had to go in a totally different direction,” developer Don Van Vuren told the commission during a workshop session.
He said he’s discovered that septic is not acceptable on a portion of the 80-acre parcel at 8750 Grand Blvd. where he proposes to build the development, either due to the soil or the steepness of the land.
Van Vuren said as a result, he wouldn’t be able to build enough houses for the project to be feasible.
He originally planned to build 25 single-family homes on 2-to-5-acre lots in addition to community barns where homeowners could board their horses.
He said PVC fencing would completely surround the development and the properties would have well water and septic.
His new plan calls for 45 homes on one-acre lots. He said homeowners would install their own wells and would pay for their own sewer connections.
“The cost would still be feasible,” said Van Vuren, adding he would need some variances and concessions to bring the project to fruition.
Van Vuren said the property is within the Merrillville Conservancy District, but he hadn’t talked to anyone there yet about his project.
The town engineer asked if Van Vuren had considered a septic mound system and commission member Brian Dering suggested he look into a system installed a number of years ago at Lake Dalecarlia.
“Homeowners there put in giant septic balls. It was a completely closed system. There’ve been no problems with leaking into the lake anymore,” Dering said.
Dering also suggested Van Vuren put signage on the road warning people to slow down in case some of the homeowners take their horses out onto the surrounding area.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
