On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, the City Council will consider accepting the Draft Lake Center District Corridor and Placemaking Study and approving a preferred scenario for Portage Road. If accepted, initiatives and projects within the study would be treated by the City Administration and considered by the City Council just like any other city project. Funding considerations, feasibility studies, and public input will all be part of that process. The final Draft Lake Center District Corridor and Placemaking Study can be viewed at portagemi.gov/721.
Members of the City Council requested that a Council Committee of the Whole meeting regarding the Lake Center District Corridor and Placemaking Study be held prior to the City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 13. The Committee of the Whole meeting will provide the Council with additional time to ask questions of the City Administration, without taking any votes. The Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13, 2021, from 5:00 – 6:15 PM in Council Chambers. The public is welcome to attend.
The Council will conduct a public hearing during the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers regarding the acceptance of the Lake Center District Corridor and Placemaking Study. This meeting will be conducted in person in the City Council Chambers. Citizens may also provide public comment by calling the public phone line at (844) 854-2222, Access Code 529853# (to voice a question or comment, press *6 to enter the queue). Subsequent to the public hearing, the City Administration will recommend that the City Council accept the study and approve the preferred road scenario on Portage Road.
A public comment period for the draft study was open from April 28 - May 23, 2021, and the city received hundreds of submissions. The public comments can be viewed at https://www.portagemi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4103/Public-Comments?bidId. After receiving feedback from residents concerning proposed improvements to the canal between Austin Lake and West Lake, the city chose to remove the project from the Long-Term Implementation Plan (5-10 years) section of the study. The proposed project was moved to the Future Potential Moves (20+ years) section of the study, which represents projects considered during the study visioning process, but that are not currently included in the implementation plan and may be considered by future city leadership. Other changes to the study include the removal of renderings of proposed docks on West Lake and the mention of jet ski/boat rentals.
On Saturday, May 15, 2021, the city held an open house at Lakeview Park, in the heart of the Lake Center District. Councilmembers, city staff, and Steering Committee members were on-site. More than 200 people attended and had the opportunity to view display boards and study details, ask questions and provide additional public feedback.