Town of Cedar Lake
Plan Commission
Public Meeting Minutes

Pledge of Allegiance

Mr. Kiepura called the meeting to order and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call

Minutes

Minutes of the April 1, 2026 Work Session and April 15, 2026 Public Meeting were distributed in advance. No corrections were noted.

Motion to approve the April 1, 2026 Work Session minutes and the April 15, 2026 Public Meeting minutes made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Becker.

Motion carries, 6–0.

Old Business

1. 2026-04 — Fernandez & Bies — Final Plat — Ravine Estates — Approved (6–0)

Marino Fernandez and Krzysztof Bies appeared. The Mylar plat documents were signed by both petitioners at the meeting.

Mr. Kubiak raised one new technical requirement: a small sewer extension is needed as a public improvement for the subdivision. Mr. Sherry confirmed it is a public improvement and will require either a performance bond or the work to be completed before the final plat is released. Mr. Sherry will prepare an engineer’s estimate; the performance bond will be set at 110% of that estimate. Mr. Kiepura noted the motion should include this condition.

Motion to approve the Final Plat for Ravine Estates (2026-04), contingent on the petitioner posting a performance bond for the sewer extension in an amount to be determined by the Town Engineer at 110% of the engineer’s estimate, made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Hunley.

Motion carries, 6–0.

2. 2026-06 — My Fair Sweets — Site Plan Approval — Approved (6–0)

Ms. Haywood appeared and explained her concept: a custom cake bakery specializing in decorative birthday and specialty cakes, with a limited café component (sandwiches and sweets). She plans to occupy the existing space without interior modifications; existing furniture, approximately four tables, will remain. No additional seating is planned. The existing footprint, parking, and building configuration are unchanged.

Mr. Sherry asked about lights shown on a submitted rendering. Ms. Haywood explained the rendering was AI-generated using ChatGPT, which added two pendant lights to the image; no new lighting is being installed. Existing building-mounted lights and a parking lot street light are already in place. Mr. Kubiak confirmed the use is low-volume with no engineering concerns.

Motion to approve the My Fair Sweets site plan (2026-06) at 13145 Wicker Avenue made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Wilkening.

Motion carries, 6–0.

3. 2026-07 — Jabaay Trucking LLC — Site Plan Approval — Approved (6–0)

Ray Heavener (71 St. Michael’s Drive, Bourbonnais, Illinois) appeared on behalf of the Petitioner with a Power of Attorney. The building at 13791 Osborne Street is under construction; only the exterior shell is complete. Mr. Sherry and Mr. Kubiak confirmed no engineering or building department concerns with this tenancy arrangement. The Power of Attorney was submitted to the Commission record.

Motion to approve the Jabaay Trucking LLC site plan (2026-07) at 13791 Osborne Street made by Mr. Becker; seconded by Mr. Wilkening.

Motion carries, 6–0.

4. 2026-11 — Lighthouse Restaurant — Site Plan Amendment Approval — Approved (6–0)

Chris Pappas (811 Ronnie Court, Crown Point), Cory Detamore (978 Theresa Drive, Crown Point), and Eric Hart (924 Cook Court, Crown Point) appeared on behalf of LH Real Estate Investment LLC.

Mr. Pappas summarized the updated submission since the May 6 work session: engineered manufacturer’s drawings have been provided to the Building Department per the Commission’s direction. The structural design was enhanced to include a bi-fold enclosure system that seals all panels, addressing the wind concern raised at the work session. Engineered wind resistance rating: 120 miles per hour. Mr. Pappas confirmed the system installs in approximately three hours using a track that bolts to the existing concrete deck every 18 inches with 6-inch by 3/8-inch anchors. The front panel does not have a floor track; it pins at the top and bottom. The system can be removed but is designed as a permanent installation.

Discussion addressed the classification of the structure (temporary vs. permanent). Mr. Kubiak and Mr. Wilkening noted the system is comparable to a greenhouse or carport — not site-built, aluminum frame, polycarbonate panels, and removable — while being substantial and engineered. The Commission found the engineered drawings satisfactory.

Motion to approve the Lighthouse Restaurant site plan amendment (2026-11) for an outdoor patio retractable cover at 7501 Constitution Avenue made by Mr. Parker; seconded by Mr. Wilkening.

Motion carries, 6–0.

Letters of Credit

5. Railside — Performance Letter of Credit

Rob Henn (13455 Parish Avenue) appeared on behalf of Railside. He reported the Letter of Credit has been renewed for one year. The renewal documentation has been delivered to Monica Horta at Town Hall. The remaining public improvement is the final coat of asphalt surface course. Under the Railside PUD agreement, the surface coat may be installed once the subdivision reaches 50% occupancy (the ordinance standard is 80%; the PUD reduced this threshold). Currently at approximately 20% occupancy. Mr. Henn estimated surface coat installation is likely next spring.

Motion to approve the one-year extension of the Railside Performance Letter of Credit in the amount of $1,165,934.83 to expire June 16, 2027 made by Mr. Swick; seconded by Mr. Hunley.

Motion carries, 6–0.

6, 7, and 8. Summerwinds Units 1, 2, and 3 — Performance Letters of Credit

Brad Lambert (8865 Crooked Bend, St. John), representing Summerwinds Residential Development (50% partner), appeared to report on progress toward completing the outstanding punch list items for all three Summerwinds units. Mr. Lambert reported:

• Final Asphalt Surface Course: Completed as of the day of the meeting — the final surface coat has been placed throughout the subdivision.
• Punch List Items: Substantial progress made. Remaining items include storm sewer, grading, fire hydrant, water, and sanitary items. Some hydrant and storm structure adjustments on the punch list are items Lambert’s contractor characterizes as within standard tolerances; they submitted a detailed email to Mr. Sherry the day of the meeting explaining each item.
• Sidewalk Remediation: 3,500 sq ft of sidewalk originally identified for removal and replacement. Lambert proposes using Ardex, a concrete resurfacing product, for superficial spalling and surface damage, reserving full panel replacement for deeply compromised or long-run sections. A test square was installed for Town staff review. Mr. Kubiak and Mr. Sherry are evaluating the approach.
• Sump Pump Tie-Ins: Several homes on the south side of the subdivision have basement sump pumps discharging above grade rather than tied into the storm sewer system. The subdivision was designed for slab-on-grade homes; when basements were constructed, the plans required a 6-inch PVC tie-in point. Mr. Kubiak confirmed some homes were not connected. This remains on the punch list.

The three letters expire June 20 and June 23, 2026. The next regular meeting is June 3 (work session). Mr. Deutmeyer noted a pull date should be set with at least one week of lead time before expiration. The Commission agreed to hold a special public meeting as part of the June 3 work session to receive a progress report and determine whether to convert to maintenance, extend the performance letters, or set a pull date.

Mr. Wilkening directed that if Mr. Lambert does not anticipate being able to complete all punch list items by June 3, he must come prepared with extension documentation. Mr. Parker confirmed the Commission’s standard: if the Town Engineer does not sign off on completion, the performance bonds will not be released.

Motion to schedule a special public meeting as part of the June 3, 2026 work session to receive a progress report on Summerwinds Units 1, 2, and 3 and determine direction for the Performance Letters of Credit made by Mr. Wilkening; seconded by Mr. Becker.

Motion carries, 6–0.

Tabled Items

• 2023-18 — Bay Bridge
• 2023-19 — Founders Creek
• 2023-20 — Red Cedars

Public Comment

Doug Churchwell — 10259 W. 134th Avenue, Summerwinds

Mr. Churchwell, a Summerwinds resident since March 2021, addressed concrete quality concerns. He stated that spalling on the subdivision sidewalks began shortly after construction — not as a result of weathering over time — and that the concrete quality was poor from the outset. He noted that the test patch installed by Mr. Lambert still shows a crack bleeding through the surface. He expressed concern that the Ardex resurfacing product may not be appropriate for all problem areas and asked the Commission to ensure the standard is applied correctly.

Linda Jameson — 13402 Madison Avenue, Summerwinds

Ms. Jameson presented a photograph taken the day of the meeting showing the test patch square with yellow caution tape still in place and a visible crack persisting through the patch. She also raised a drainage concern relayed to her through a conversation with Mr. Kubiak: a drainage tube into the north retention pond may be blocked, causing poor drainage behind homes in that area. Mr. Parker confirmed Mr. Kubiak will follow up on the drainage issue and that any unresolved punch list drainage items will be included before the performance bond is closed out.

Rich Kruick — 10080 W. 134th Avenue (HOA President)

Mr. Kruick, President of the Summerwinds HOA, provided a detailed assessment. Key points:

• Two long sidewalk sections — one at King Street near the subdivision entrance (south of People’s Bank) and one on Madison Avenue — are in the worst condition and in his view should be fully replaced rather than patched. If those sections and a few driveway apron areas are replaced, the remaining patchwork is more manageable.
• He performed a public records request and reviewed the punch list. Item 32 specifically — identified as a soggy, wet area in a HOA board member’s backyard on the south side adjacent to the ditch and the subdivision to the south — has not been addressed. Mr. Lambert confirmed this had not yet been completed.
• He expressed concern that if Ardex resurfacing is used and fails after three years of the maintenance bond, residents will bear the replacement cost. He urged the Commission to ensure that wherever the concrete is compromised, full replacement is required.

Mr. Parker acknowledged the concerns and reiterated: the Town Engineer must sign off on the punch list before the performance bond is released. The maintenance bond provides a three-year warranty period after conversion.

Backyard Chicken Ordinance — Discussion

During the public comment period, Mr. Kubiak raised a question about the definition of a chicken coop versus an accessory structure in the proposed ordinance, noting that residents may use a chicken coop request to circumvent accessory structure limits. He stated staff drafted a range of considerations and asked for Commission direction.

Mr. Wilkening asked staff to bring formal written comments and recommendations to the next work session. Mr. Kiepura expressed strong personal opposition to permitting chickens in residential areas, citing the small size of many Cedar Lake lots (referencing Lynnsway as an example of an area where chickens would be inappropriate) and noting that all ordinances he has reviewed require a minimum of one acre. He stated he will vote against any ordinance that does not have a meaningful lot size threshold.

Mr. Parker noted the language should use “laying hens” rather than “chickens” to exclude meat birds, which would constitute livestock. Mr. Kiepura confirmed the Winfield ordinance includes prohibitions on slaughter on the premises and restricts chickens to single-family residences only. Mr. Kubiak confirmed staff will circulate written input for the June 3 work session.

Adjournment

Mr. Kiepura adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:10 p.m.