By VICKI URBANIK

The planning process that will help guide development along Porter County’s major roads kicked off in earnest Thursday, when planners met with a small, but vocal, group of residents.

After hosting meetings earlier in the day with groups representing municipalities, economic development, and environmentalists, the Porter County Plan Commission’s planning consultants held the first of several public meetings on the new Corridor Plan Thursday.

About 15 people attended the evening session, held at Washington Township High School.

With large maps of the county’s major corridors such as Ind. 49 and Meridian Road laid out on tables, the planners asked the residents to point out the strengths and weaknesses along these roads and to comment on how they would like to see the land along these corridors developed.

The exercise prompted plenty of colorful written notes posted on the maps, with the U.S. 6 map attracting some of the most feedback.

One comment stated that there is too much development at U.S. 6 and Old Ind. 49, which was described as a bad intersection. Another comment said any further development along U.S. 6 should stay in the corporate limits of Portage. Yet another said that any new development on U.S. 6 should have service roads. Another expressed concern for keeping the stretch of U.S. 6 from C.R. 400E. to Old 49 scenic.

Dueling comments were posted for a stretch along U.S. 6 near the proposed Arcadia subdivision. One individual wrote that this land should be rezoned to R-1 due to sewer and water availability. Another wrote in favor of keeping the zoning more rural.

Along Meridian Road, one resident wrote: “We live in the country for a reason.” Another stated that Meridian Road doesn’t need any more traffic.

Opposition to the new Porter hospital at U.S. 6 and Ind. 49 in Liberty Township and the rumored Wal Mart along Ind. 49 in Chesterton were posted on the map for the 49 Bypass.

Along roads in other parts of the county, residents called for the areas to remain rural. One resident wrote that the public doesn’t want Merrillville-area congestion in Valparaiso. Another wrote that development in the Boone Grove area has caused too many traffic problems on Ind. 2.

The planning consultants retained by the Porter County Plan Commission are expected to use the public comments received Thursday as they prepare the actual Corridor Plan, which is to address land use on one-fourth mile on each side of the county’s major roads.

A follow-up report on Thursday’s meeting will be posted at www.CommunityCollaborate.com, in the near future. Another public meeting is expected to be held in late summer.

Peter Fritz, with RATIO Architects, said the purpose of the Corridor Plan to build on the county’s comprehensive land use plan established in 2001. That plan proposed such things as connecting roads between subdivisions, more public transportation, multiple uses such as bike lanes along the roads, and improved connections to regional transportation.

Several of those in attendance Thursday seemed to be in agreement that development along the major roads needs to be controlled so that congestion is avoided.

Tim Cole of Liberty Township, a member of the County Plan Commission, said he came to the meeting because he wants to avoid turning Porter County into areas in Illinois and other parts of Indiana with uncontrolled development.

Similarly, Linda Moore of Washington Township said urban sprawl is a main concern for her. She said she moved to Porter County from Lake County, where the local roads are heavily congested. She said if Porter County allows too much development along its roads, gridlock will occur here as well.

Presenting a different perspective was Gerald Hebert of Liberty Township, who noted that the Porter County Commissioners adopted a major land use and zoning plan, but then changed that plan by recently rezoning the land for the new Porter hospital at U.S. 6 and Ind. 49.

“Some of us have a bad taste in our mouth over this process,” he said, as he questioned what the Corridor Plan might lead to. “This is what we’re so gun shy about.”

Posted 5/23/2008