The public got an up close look at the new Porter County Corridor Plan last week, and judging by the initial comments, the plan won marks of approval.

The plan outlines development options along the major roadways in the county’s unincorporated areas. Among the myriad of suggestions are proposals for new developments in cluster-type modules, bike and pedestrian paths, “green” road designs such as wildlife crossings, expansion of U.S. 6 from Ind. 49 and Ind. 149 into four lanes, the establishment of a neighborhood village-type development at U.S. 6 and Meridian Road, and the extension of Ind. 149 to U.S. 30.

The Porter County Plan Commission and its consultants, RATIO Architects, held an open house Thursday at the Porter County Expo Center. About 25 people attended the event, where they got to see oversized maps of the corridor plan and give verbal or written input.

Pete Fritz of RATIO said he was pleased with the feedback, saying that it appeared that most of those who commented appreciated the plan’s emphasis on incorporating new developments with preservation of open space and the natural beauty along the county’s roads.

“Development and natural features can co-exist in a sustainable way,” he said.

Porter County Plan Commission member Tim Cole said the plan is a long time in the making and that most people who commented seem to support the principles of conservation design with its goal to combine compact building with plenty of open space. He said getting the plan in place is one step, but that implementation will be key.

During the open house, one audience member said that Chesterton appears intent on growing southward to U.S. 6, as she questioned if the county’s plan’s emphasis on conservation design standards could be required of the town. Fritz responded that the plan only applies to the unincorporated areas but towns and cities are encouraged to adopt the plan’s principles.

Another audience member pointed to improvements along Ind. 2 in the town of Hebron as a “small town success story” and a symbol of the coordination that can occur between the county and a municipality. A few others submitted written comments: Two comments urged the county to preserve natural and wooded areas along the roadways, while another called for the expansion of U.S. 30 into six lanes.

Fritz said the corridor plan’s steering committee will meet again to review the draft plan. Final comments from the committee and the open house will be incorporated into the final plan. Tentatively, the plan will be presented to the plan commission for adoption in April and would then be forwarded to the county commissioners as an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance.

Posted 3/9/2009