Request OK’d to expand facility

More property has been added to a new mobile home park in Pennville.

Property owners are continuing the legal zoning process before starting on engineering plans. 

Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception Thursday, allowing three parcels currently zoning as single family residential to join the project.

The request will be forwarded to Jay County Plan Commission, which is tentatively scheduled to meet Thursday, May 8. If approved, the final decision will move to Jay County Commissioners.

Rural Geneva resident Darrick Plummer of Pennville Partners plans to convert the lot west of South Street, just south of Max Drive, and the lot south of Daisy Lane — it’s located next to the existing Freedom Village Mobile Home Park — into more mobile home park space. Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals OK’d Plummer’s request in October to combine the two parcels — about 12 acres — and create the mobile home park. (A month later, commissioners also approved the request.)

Jay/Portland Building and Planning director John Hemmelgarn explained Plummer has purchased three additional parcels within Pennville town limits to be added to the project. One parcel is located on the west side of county road 300 North, north of Daily Lane, and the other two parcels are located on the north side of Max Drive. 

Plummer explained next steps involve moving forward with engineering for the project, estimating it will take between 12 and 18 months to finalize plans. From there, he’ll work with Indiana Department of Health to meet state mobile home guidelines.

With the new properties added to the project, Plummer hopes to put in 50 lots for homes, estimating they’ll do the project over the course of four to five years in about four phases. 

Hopes are to start on the first phase and add in about eight to 10 lots within the next two years. He said they’re also in the process of remodeling some of the mobile homes in the area.

Plummer said 13 existing mobile homes are taken and that he expects another two to be occupied by the beginning of May.

“There’s a huge demand for it,” he said.

He noted he eventually would like to extend the north and south portion of Max Drive to connect with Daisy Lane, the latter of which ends in a cul-de-sac, but that part of the project he plans to pursue in the future.

Pati McLaughlin of Jay/Portland Building and Planning referenced a few conditions for the special exception as recommended by the county attorney. Per the conditions, Pennville Partners must have “adequate utilities, access roads and drainage and other necessary facilities.” The special exception will also be “cited, oriented and landscaped to produce a harmonious relationship … with adjacent buildings and properties.”

According to the petition filed, Pennville Town Council approved the request to move forward with the project at its March meeting.

Board members Angela Paxson, Scott Hilfiker and Steve Ford, absent Kaleb Hemmelgarn and Marla Lutes, agreed to grant the special exception.