[url=http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2006/05/15/news/lake_county/0a76d9e7db9ae83b8625716f001c52e8.txt]Resident trying to stop high-density project
CEDAR LAKE: Union Station is proposed to draw South Shore depot to Cedar Lake[/url]
CEDAR LAKE | When the Town Council meets Tuesday, Tammy Todd will be there with hundreds of residents' signatures against a project she says will put too many people on too little land.
"We want nice housing that isn't going to turn into Section 8," Todd said, adding that it's time for the town to attract upscale home buyers.
Originally, Hawk Development of Crown Point had suggested that as many as 900 residential units plus a general business district would occupy the 105 acres at Parrish and 141st avenues planned as Union Station subdivision, but those figures have changed.
According to Jill Dickerson of Cedar Lake's Department of Planning and Zoning, Hawk Development submitted the preliminary subdivision plat for approval that showed the residential units adjusted down to a total of 788, with 660 of them in multi-family units or apartments and the remainder in two-family residences.
Todd said the residential portion is on 65 acres only. The remaining 40 acres are devoted to the business and commercial area. "That's really, really condensed," she said.
Hawk spokesmen have said Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District officials want to locate the station for the South Shore train extension in a high-density area, and the Union Station development is aimed at drawing a depot to Cedar Lake.
Todd, however, maintains that dangling the depot carrot in front of town officials is simply an excuse to justify the density proposed.
"To a person, as soon as they hear the plans, they want to sign the petition," Todd said of Cedar Lake residents. "We know the development is going to happen. We want to stop the rezoning.
"We want a trickle of homes, a trickle of kids into the school system."
Earlier, a Hawk spokesperson estimated that Union Station could be done in two years.
That could mean 1,000 new students into Hanover schools, Todd said.
A number of copies of the petition are being circulated throughout the community at locations including Community Bible Church and Linda's Beauty Salon.
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