Former Mill House To Become Seven Apartments, BZA Approves
The Dubois County Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances clearing the way for Sultan’s Run co‑owner Chris Tretter to convert the former Mill House restaurant into five one‑bedroom apartments and to build a duplex with two two‑bedroom units on the adjacent parking lot. The decision allows multifamily use in an R‑3 district, permits smaller unit sizes consistent with R‑4 standards, and authorizes a shared parking arrangement of 11 spaces, raising questions about parking, density, and precedent in the neighborhood.
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The Board of Zoning Appeals has authorized a redevelopment that will transform the vacant Mill House restaurant into residential housing and add a new duplex on the site’s neighboring lot. Under the approved plan, the existing restaurant building will be converted into five one‑bedroom units ranging from 616 to 720 square feet, while a newly constructed duplex on the adjacent parking area will contain two two‑bedroom units, bringing the total new housing on the property to seven units.
Sultan’s Run co‑owner Chris Tretter presented the proposal to the zoning board, which granted multiple variances to accommodate the project. The board allowed multifamily use within an R‑3 residential district, approved unit sizes below the 900‑square‑foot threshold by noting the proposed apartment dimensions meet R‑4 standards, and accepted a shared or off‑site parking solution that provides 11 total spaces through an agreement with nearby property owners. Two parcels on the west side of the property will be combined through an administrative subdivision to facilitate the development. No exterior changes are planned to the existing restaurant building.
The approvals reflect a local planning trade‑off: the project increases the town’s housing supply and repurposes a vacant commercial building, while bending zoning rules intended to manage density and parking in an R‑3 area. For residents and nearby businesses, the conversion offers potential benefits such as additional rental options close to services and a reduction in blight from a vacant structure. At the same time, the decision raises practical concerns about on‑street parking pressures, traffic flow, and how the shared parking agreement will be enforced over time.
The BZA’s finding that the proposed one‑bedroom units meet R‑4 sizing standards was central to the variances. That distinction may matter to future proposals in the district, as it establishes a specific interpretation of unit size requirements that other developers could reference in seeking similar approvals. Combining parcels by administrative subdivision also streamlines the legal configuration of the site, allowing the owner to proceed without a more complex platting process.
Local elected officials, planning staff, and residents will now monitor implementation details such as recording of the subdivision, the terms and longevity of the shared parking agreement, and any permits required for interior conversion and new construction. The project is an example of infill development that tests existing zoning boundaries; its ultimate impact on neighborhood character and municipal services will depend on how the development is built, managed, and integrated into the surrounding community.
