For Porter town officials it was applause, hugs, handshakes and high-fives all around.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority had just voted 5-0 approving Porter’s $1,816,500 request to fund year one as lead agency for the Indiana 49 Lakeshore Gateway Corridor Development Project.

The vote came in Porter’s own town hall where the RDA Board of Directors met Tuesday.

“Thank you for having faith in the Town of Porter,” said Michele Bollinger, Town Council president. “We know it will be a boost not only to us but the region as well.”

Chesterton resident Patricia Carlisle also thanked the RDA for its support for Porter’s application. “This is incredible.”

Porter’s Redevelopment Commission initially had requested $19,413,750 over three years from the RDA toward a $30,707,930 total corridor project cost.

Redevelopment Commission president Micheal Genger told the RDA certain portions of the project needed to be expedited because the Indiana Department of Transportation is scheduled to let bids in January to reconstruct the Indiana 49 bridge over U.S. 20.

Although INDOT will provide space for a future hike/bike trail, if desired aesthetic enhancements like lighting, signage, railing and landscaping are to be added at the town’s request, timely decision making and action are needed now or the opportunity will be lost, according to Genger.

He also alluded to circumstances that could impact the RDA’s future ability to help the town because the Porter County Council majority has initiated an effort to withdraw from the RDA. Gus Olympidis, the county’s RDA appointee, did not attend Tuesday and several times during the meeting Porter County’s position was noted.

Harley Snyder, a governor’s RDA appointee with Porter County ties, commended the Town of Porter for its persistence and commitment despite the lack of support from others in Porter County.

RDA chairman Leigh Morris opened the meeting rebutting what he described as 10 misconceptions and misinterpretations anti-RDA advocates are perpetuating. “There’s a tendency for many to believe what they hear if they hear it often enough and the record is not corrected.”

Morris said Porter County already has benefited and stands to gain even more through continued RDA participation, and that the RDA provides a unique and unparalleled advantage to Northwest Indiana in its efforts to grow and prosper.

According to Morris, Porter County Council and Board of Commissioners members were invited to be present Tuesday to hear a lengthy discussion by RDA consultant Bill Sheldrake of Policy Analytics LLC regarding strategies for future RDA financial options. Morris said he regretted Porter County officials were not among the approximately 50 people who did attend.

Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission president Cliff Fleming spoke in support of Porter’s RDA application and said good things are happening and will continue despite criticism coming the RDA’s way.

Porter’s RDA grant, which incorporates the recommendations of the Marquette Plan to revitalize the Lake Michigan shoreline and its adjacent communities, specifically will fund:

• A $240,000 sub-area gateway plan to guide future Indiana 49 corridor development generally between Interstate 94 and the Indiana Dunes State Park.

•Engineering through construction at a cost of $205,000 for town-sought aesthetic enhancements like lighting, signage and landscaping tied to state reconstruction of the Indiana 49 bridge over U.S. 20 next year.

•A $225,000 alternative transportation study finding ways to shuttle tourists between the Dune Park South Shore Station, the state park and local communities and other attractions.

•Engineering and design at a cost of $911,500 for Porter’s 3.95-mile leg of the planned Dunes Kankakee trail from U.S. 12 south to the intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and Calumet Road. Eventually the trail will link north and south Porter County along Indiana 49.

•Another $125,000 to serve as local match for a $500,000 federal grant to Porter County to construct approaches and crossings for the Dunes Kankakee near the Indiana 49/U.S. 20 intersection.

•An Indiana 49 engineer’s feasibility study costing $110,000 to study modifying a section of the highway for an iconic park entrance.

A.J. Monroe of SEH, Porter’s consultant on the gateway project, noted the joint Porter County/National Park Service visitor center already is located along Indiana 49 in the Town of Porter to serve the 3 million annual visitors who visit Lake Michigan’s dunes.

RDA executive director Bill Hanna said the gateway project will upgrade the standards and attractability of Porter lots and zoning parcels that sit empty or are under-utilized near the Indiana 49/U.S. 20 area. Hospitality-related development initially is eyed. Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce executive director Heather Ennis said after the meeting that gateway development would attract tourists, enable them to enjoy Duneland’s quality of life and hopefully relocate their businesses here.

Ennis also said the chamber is working on other development projects in tandem with Porter’s tourism initiative. “In the last year is the most active and collaborative I’ve seen the (Duneland) communities.”

Meeting last night, the full Porter Redevelopment Commission was advised of the $1.8 million award; cited was the need to negotiate a contract soon with the RDA so SEH can begin its work.

By consensus the commission authorized Genger and Porter director of engineering and development Matt Keiser to keep the gateway project moving on all fronts although member Al Raffin said he and others should be kept in the loop to have continued input.

Porter has established a list of project stakeholders including the National Park Service, the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, and the Indiana Dunes State Park with whom project needs are being defined and discussed.

Additional funding sources also are being pursued. In years two and three of Porter’s project are planned actual $5 million Dunes Kankakee Trail construction through town, a $4 million trail pedestrian bridge, $740,000 in engineering and design for Indiana 49 reconstruction, and $7.8 million to do that work.

A second RDA award of $500,000 was approved unanimously Tuesday for the Regional Bus Authority to fund a Northwest Lake County bus service plan. Morris described the grant as stop-gap funding until a dedicated source of revenue is in place.

Chesterton resident Leonard Sullivan said transportation and paratransit services for the disabled are needed, and those riders should have their interests represented at the RDA. Snyder’s motion included that all applicable laws and consent decrees be followed.

Posted 11/18/2009