PORTER | The Porter Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to give preliminary approval of an ordinance establishing the old Andershock Fruitland site as a planned unit development for construction of a radio tower for WBEZ.

Greg Babcock, attorney representing WBEZ Alliance, who told the council they had only three more weeks to close on the 20-acre parcel and hoped to gain immediate approval.

But Porter Town Attorney Patrick Lyp requested a final version of commitments from WBEZ Alliance with timelines to allow for any remaining negotiation.

Babcock said his client would comply and be present at the Feb. 26 meeting to seek final approval.

Among those commitments requested by Lyp are the timeline for demolition of vacant buildings on the parcel and removal of debris, and a timeline for plat approval from the town plan commission. The agreement also allows for the dismissal of litigation that arose from previous site requests.

WBEZ Alliance President and General Manager Torey Malatia told the council of the many benefits to the community from placement of a tower at this location.

"It is a meeting place, where people can hear each other's ideas and exchange opinions and thoughts. We've been searching for this option for a long time, and it really should be a community resource nn a value to everyone who lives in this area, keeping people abreast of what's going on. It will enrich the community if done right," Malatia said.

Town Planner James Mandon confirmed that the Porter Plan Commission unanimously approved the tower PUD last month. He said the new facelift for the property on the corner of U.S. 20 and Tremont Road would benefit the town since only about five acres would be used for the tower and the remaining 15 acres could be used for commercial use.

"This site has been planned for industrial use, and we're getting some very beneficial attractive property to develop without having to demolish the buildings on the site first. This spurs commercial development on the frontage of the parcel and that's a great economic benefit to the town," Mandon said.

Babcock also told the council that allowing the use of this industrially zoned parcel to be used for the tower would exclude use for other industries, such as motor freight, truck stops and fuel storage. In addition, the tower will not impair wetlands on the property and will give emergency services and other users the chance to see Porter Beach and the region through use of a weather cam, Babcock said.