The development of a form-based code is in the 1-Year Action Plan and it would go through the standard city approval process. We would also seek to educate and get feedback from residents and businesses, through this process and also during the forthcoming Zoning Code Update.
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There are no proposed recommendations that would impact the water quality of either West Lake or Austin Lake.
There are no proposed changes to the physical canal. Any improvements proposed would be canal/drain adjacent (eg; boardwalk in Lakeview Park on city-owned property). The concept is merely to connect people and places.
This rendering of the pontoon boat was located in the Public Engagement section of the report, highlighting the materials presented during the 3-day public charrette and related surveys corresponding to those materials. The rendering has been removed. All references to canal/drain connectivity have been removed from the recommendations and implementation section of the study.
There are no proposed changes to the physical canal. Any improvements proposed would be canal/drain adjacent.
There are no current plans for any public docks. Private docks would be approved consistent with city and state (EGLE) regulations.
The City Council approved Scenario 3, which occurs entirely within the existing public right-of-way.
The city is not proposing this number of units, it’s simply the potential amount of units that could fit on the acreage as identified by a residential market analysis. This is privately owned property and any potential development project would undergo the standard processes and reviews, which may include a Traffic Impact Study if deemed necessary.
The City of Portage manages traffic on a daily basis, making adjustments as needed, and as new residential projects and businesses open throughout the year. New visitors, residents, and traffic to the Lake Center District also mean an increase in customers, support for businesses, and spending of dollars within the community. If we build a safer, more beautiful, and vibrant corridor, “traffic” is envisioned to be more multimodal - not only cars but residents on foot and on bicycles, children on scooters, aging residents with walkers, all of whom would be able to safely patronize businesses and enjoy the Lake Center District through a variety of ways.
There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the city’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.
Funding for certain investments within the study area will be contained within the CIP, others will not. Depending on the project, funding may also be leveraged through federal and state transportation funding, the proposed Corridor Improvement Authority, commercial corridor redevelopment partnerships, and many other funding sources that can support implementation steps.
There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the City’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.
There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Planning-level cost estimates for the recommendations are in the final section of the report. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the City’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.
The creation of a corridor improvement authority, much like a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is being considered and would capture tax dollars coming from that corridor. Those tax dollars would go directly back into that corridor in the form of public improvements. The tax rate will not change; these funds would be a result of the increase in property values and values from new construction. For detailed information on the State of Michigan’s Corridor Improvement Authority please visit: corridor-improvement-authority-pa-280.pdf (miplace.org)
No; however, as stated at the public hearing of the July 13, 2021, City Council meeting, if the project is successful, property owners in the area will benefit from improvements to the corridor (eg; higher property values, etc.).
The City Administration plans to recommend the purchase of property within the District. Approval and the source of funds will be determined by the City Council at the related City Council meetings.
In recent years, the city has boosted its use of social media and listserv tools, adding to the more traditional methods of project notifications through the Portager newsletter, direct mail letters, and the media. We will continue to employ these various methods to advise the community about city-initiated projects in the Lake Center District. To stay up to date, sign up for Notify Me at www.portagemi.gov/list.aspx and subscribe to the Lake Center District Area category.