The Porter County
Redevelopment Commission wants to work with the City of Valparaiso’s
Economic Development Director on an interlocal agreement to create
opportunities at and near the Porter County Regional Airport, but it would
need action from the County Commissioners.
A resolution to
create a tax increment finance (TIF) allocation area was put before the
Commissioners by the RDC, but was shelved once Valparaiso’s Economic
Director Patrick Lyp contacted the County suggesting the two entities could
work together on an airport development zone.
Since then, the RDC
has been going over the details on what a partnership between the two
governments would entail.
The RDC unanimously
agreed on a motion Thursday to formally state their willingness to work with
Valparaiso on a joint effort to develop the airport area.
It learned however
that the RDC is “limited” in what it can do until the Commissioners approve
the TIF zone, according to its legal advisor Gregg Sobkowski.
In attendance,
Airport Director Kyle Kuebler said the “In Plane View” study drafted over
five years ago pointed out ways both entities could help provide utilities
and resources by using TIF zones.
“I don’t think we
need to start from scratch. We have the road map,” Kuebler said.
The airport has
been eyed for development given its accessibility, Kuebler said, It sits off
a federal highway, located between three railroads, is within miles of an
international port, and has a runway longer than Midway International
Airport in Chicago.
“We’ve got all four
modes of transportation,” he said.
RDC non-voting
member and advisor Ralph Ayres said the airport “is sort of like a jewel
sitting there waiting to be developed.”
Some portions of
the airport property, located northeast of the Ind. 49 - U.S. 30
intersection, are in the jurisdiction of the County, Kuebler said, and some
are in Valparaiso’s, but the same zoning rules for development apply to
each.
RDC member and
County Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said he wasn’t sure why efforts have
stalled since there has been a plan in place for so long.
“I think he (Kuebler)
is asking for implementation and getting this done.”
Since there is “not
a lot (the RDC) can do” until the TIF is approved, Rivas suggested the board
let the Commissioners know their goal to move forward. RDC member Dave
Burrus felt holding a meeting with Commissioners would be prudent.
“I think the link
to us and the Commissioners needs to be developed a little bit closer,”
Burrus said.
RDC members agreed
with Rivas and also in a motion agreed to honor Valparaiso’s request to
share in the costs of hiring a consultant for a zoning study. In the motion,
the RDC said it would pay half the costs of whatever the final price tag
will be. The total is reportedly $38,000.
Another condition
would be that with the costs split evenly, the City and the County will
decide jointly which consultant to hire.
Burrus emphasized
close collaboration with the City as the board “needs to see that whatever
we do does not cause isolation between the two boards.”
RDC members
directed Sobkowski to put their motions into a letter to Lyp.
In another action,
the RDC appointed member Robert Thompson, executive director of the County
Plan Commission, to be their point of contact for prospective businesses
looking to come into the development area.
The RDC will not
meet in December and will convene for its organizational meeting on Jan. 15.