Owners of the closed Brassie Golf Club are in talks with Chesterton’s economic development officials about turning their 163-acre property off Pearson Road into a residential development.
Councilwoman Jennifer Fisher, I-5th, confirmed that the landowners — PMM Chesterton LLC — have had discussions with the town’s new economic development team, headed by Rebecca Parker. Fisher said the developer is not ready to present a concept plan to the town’s Advisory Plan Commission.
The Brassie Golf Club discontinued operations in the spring of 2021. It is one of the prime pieces of undeveloped land left in Chesterton.
Last May, there was a proposal from Provident Realty Advisors of Dallas, Texas, for a data center to be built on the property, which was met with overwhelming opposition from residents. The proposal was quickly withdrawn.
Lennar Homes also took an option on the land and presented a proposal for a 394-unit subdivision on the golf property. The developer backed away after getting a chilly reception from Chesterton’s Advisory Plan Commission in November 2022.
The property once had been listed for sale for $2.75 million, according to real estate websites. PMM Chesterton LLC has prior experience in developing residential properties, Fisher said.
Fisher said that the town is trying a new approach with those interested in developing in Chesterton by meeting with them beforehand.
Parker, director of economic development & operations, had sent an email to Town Council members James Ton and Sharon Darnell, along with Advisory Plan Commission members Tom Kopko and Fred Owens to discuss the Brassie property.
Kopko during a recent plan commission meeting expressed surprise that he and other town officials would be invited to such a private meeting. He said he had no intention of attending it.
The established process is for the developer to come before the Advisory Plan Commission for a concept review, Kopko said.
“By doing it in a public forum, we give the development’s neighbors and all the town’s citizens an opportunity to be involved in the future of Chesterton. It also ensures that there is no impression of impropriety or backroom deals,” Kopko’s statement said. “It is essential that we do everything in the open to ensure we have the support of the town’s residents, whom we represent.”
In a statement at the end of Monday’s Chesterton Town Council meeting, Fisher said that the process they are trying is new and people need to become familiar with it.
Fisher said that the company didn’t request the discussion as the meeting was called by Parker.
“I believe she deserved much better than the public statement by Mr. Kopko,” Fisher said.
Fisher said Kopko could have called Parker first and asked questions, rather than making the statement.
Chesterton has had a reputation in the development community of at times “being a bit unwelcoming and unkind,” Fisher said.
The old system has encouraged an “attorney-driven, adversarial approach,” Fisher said.
“It ultimately resulted in the town getting a reputation of being difficult and costly to work with,” Fisher said.
The Chesterton Town Council decided last June after the departure of David Cincoski as town manager to reinvest his salary into an economic development initiative. Parker was promoted to the director of economic development & operations and two consultants were retained.
“Simply put, we are changing the way that we do business here in Chesterton,” Fisher said.
The town has tried to build better relationships with the business and development community.
Fisher said that the Advisory Plan Commission will still do their review process. She said they are just trying to iron out some issues beforehand.
While talking about the Advisory Plan Commission, Fisher was critical without naming names of some commission members for how businesses and landowners were treated during hearings.
“Under no circumstances do I want to hear public bashing of our businesses or landowners from an advisory board member,” Fisher said.
Fisher said that the world is changing and Chesterton needs to respond.
“It needs us to plan a future for our community and foster a culture that welcomes and strengthens our relationships,” Fisher said.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.