Crown Point wins approval for new Stillwater subdivision crossings
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent August 16, 2012 5:42PM
Updated: September 19, 2012 6:04AM
CROWN POINT — Work can begin in about three weeks on the three removed crossings in the Stillwater subdivision provided no appeal is filed against the approved permits.
Thursday the Indiana Department of Natural Resources approved the city’s request for permits to replace the crossings at Stillwater Parkway, Greenview Place and Crooked Creek Trail that were removed in February by court order.
“We got our permit. It was approved as presented at the public hearing,” said City Attorney David Nicholls.
Residents had a chance to review those plans July 14 during a public hearing conducted by the DNR at city hall. Pursuant to the issuing of the permits, stakeholders have a right to administrative review meaning anyone opposing the currently approved permits has 18 days to do so with the DNR.
“If an appeal were taken that would further delay us being able to help the residents,” Nicholls said. City officials in March declared a state of emergency regarding the crossing removal and hired a contractor to start the work immediately pending the DNR approval and appeal period.
Tom O’Brien, a board member with the Stillwater Homeowners Association, said consensus among board members is they are satisfied with the DNR’s decision.
“If they say it is good enough, we are inclined to believe them,” O’Brien said.
He said removal of the crossings has been both an inconvenience for residents and has created a safety issue. Currently there is only one way to get in or out of the subdivision. Attorneys for the HOA appealed the last permits issued after the HOA’s engineers’ review determined the crossings at Stillwater Parkway and Crooked Creek Trail were still undersized.
“We have to believe what they are doing is the right thing. We want to see the roads go back in. We are glad the DNR has reached a conclusion on this,” O’Brien said.
The permits approved by the DNR this time are to replace the two culverts at Greenview Place, which were each 36 inches round, with two 5-feet-by-12-feet box culverts; the two 30-inch round culverts at Stillwater Parkway with two 4-feet-by-9-feet box culverts; and the two 36-inch round culverts at Crooked Creek Trail with two 3-feet-by-12-feet box culverts.
