(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County officials have rejected plans to expand services at a secluded luxury getaway house.

The Emerson House at 700 West and 350 North is where people can stay overnight and host events like weddings.  The La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals was asked for a zoning variance to put up four small prefabricated buildings over 23 acres on the grounds of the main structure.  Developers said the primary use of those buildings would be for guests at Emerson House to get away from the main structure and take a nap or meditate.

Brad Neulib, who lives adjacent to the site, said loud music from large gatherings at the estate is already a source of disruption.  He alleged the new structures really would have been used as a place for partygoers to sleep it off.  “A napping center?  Come on.  This is going to be a place for people to go from the wedding to crash,” he said.

The BZA unanimously denied the request because no restroom facilities were planned for the structures.  Developers said users of the small buildings would have had access to restrooms in the nearby Emerson House.