By PAULENE POPARAD

The Porter Redevelopment Commission has set an April 22 public hearing on adding five new areas to the town’s existing tax-increment financing or TIF allocation areas in a move to capture more dedicated revenue for improvements in those zones.

A proposed 117.59 acres would be newly designated, all in projected growth areas. Affected property owners will receive public notices of the hearing. Final approval is up to the Town Council.

Porter currently has 811.33 acres in TIF allocation areas that generated over $2.1 million in dedicated property taxes 2003-2006. The TIF program gives the town the ability to capture property taxes generated by new development in designated areas; that revenue would be reserved for projects within, or that benefit, the respective TIF districts.

The new TIF areas generally would be 3.08 acres at Saylor Basket on U.S. 20 at Beam Street; 3.925 acres on the right side of Beam and U.S. 20 including a cabinet shop and former winery; 61.866 acres at the southeast corner of Mineral Springs Road and U.S. 20 including the former Spa Restaurant property south to Beam Street; 10.28 acres at the southeast corner of Wagner Road and U.S. 20; and 38.44 acres on the south side of U.S. 20 from Waverly Road to approximately the State Road 49 intersection.

Financial consultant Dan Botich of Cender & Company also recommended removing seven current TIF parcels that have assessed valuations lower than when they originally were given TIF status. In all 59 parcels have decreased AVs totalling $1,810,682 of tax decrement, said Botich, but the seven parcels to be pruned represent 85 percent of that amount.

Botich also told the commission with members Al Raffin and Trevin Fowler absent that a list of proposed projects need to be developed for the TIF allocation areas including stormwater projects, if any.

Earlier in the meeting Porter Public Works director Brenda Brueckheimer asked on behalf of the town’s Stormwater Management Board that the Redevelopment Commission help fund an estimated $80,000 drainage project serving Johnson Street and Park Avenue near 23rd Street with an outfall into Peterson Ditch. The project is apart from stormwater upgrades planned for the area’s Ennis subdivision.

Brueckheimer said the Stormwater Board possibly could put $35,000 toward the Johnson Street drainage work.

Sexton noted that area is not within a TIF zone so TIF money, the commission’s only revenue, can’t by law be used there. Town attorney Patrick Lyp said the commission could loan the Stormwater Board money but it would have to be paid back. Brueckheimer said the board’s money is otherwise earmarked this year.

Town engineer Warren Thiede said the Stormwater Board is recommending the Town Council implement by ordinance stormwater fees for commercial property based on their equivalent residential unit, a move that would generate about $3,600 a month more for the board to use.

Lyp suggested the Stormwater Board determine if it has any eligible drainage projects proposed in a TIF area that would free up its own funds for improvements to be made in non-TIF areas. However, the TIF stormwater projects first would have to be included in a required plan for those districts.

The Redevelopment Commission voted 3-0 Tuesday to table the Johnson Street request pending more information next month. Brueckheimer said they’d like to start the drainage work this spring.

In other matters, Sexton updated the commission on his Monday request of the Chesterton Town Council to allow Porter to build a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on both the east and west sides of Jackson Boulevard to connect its planned Porter Brickyard hike/bike trail at Lincoln Street to Chesterton’s Prairie Duneland Trail south of Broadway. Chesterton officials will poll the Jackson residents regarding the sidewalks.

Sexton said if Chesterton agrees, that could delay Porter’s trail by possibly three months due to archeological/environmental surveys and right-of-way issues. Commission member Micheal Genger asked if that would be so even if Porter began its trail construction north of U.S. 20 at Howe Road. Sexton said it may and project manager Matt Keiser is checking how to circumvent that.

Regarding Porter’s planned Orchard Pedestrian Way hike/bike trail along Waverly Road north of Woodlawn Avenue, Thiede said he hopes to bid in April a walking bridge over the Little Calumet River as part of the project. Although the bridge would be built this year, after the meeting Thiede confirmed the trail itself likely won’t begin until 2009.

Posted 3/27/2008