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1. How will the city protect the water quality of West Lake with the proposed changes?

There are no proposed recommendations that would impact the water quality of either West Lake or Austin Lake.

2. What will the canal changes mean for lake-to-lake connectivity between West Lake and Austin Lake?

There are no proposed changes to the physical canal. Any improvements proposed would be canal/drain adjacent (eg; boardwalk in Lakeview Park on city-owned property). The concept is merely to connect people and places.

3. Page 16 of the study shows pontoon boats in the canal - why is this image still in the study if these large boats will not be coming through the canal/drain?

This rendering of the pontoon boat was located in the Public Engagement section of the report, highlighting the materials presented during the 3-day public charrette and related surveys corresponding to those materials. The rendering has been removed. All references to canal/drain connectivity have been removed from the recommendations and implementation section of the study.

4. What, if any, are the actual proposed changes to the canal/drain?

There are no proposed changes to the physical canal. Any improvements proposed would be canal/drain adjacent.

5. Will the public be able to weigh in on whether docks will be installed, even if they’ve been moved to future options?

There are no current plans for any public docks. Private docks would be approved consistent with city and state (EGLE) regulations.

6. Do the proposed changes require any acquisitions or only lane changes?

The City Council approved Scenario 3, which occurs entirely within the existing public right-of-way.

7. How will a rebalanced Portage Road be able to handle the increased traffic from proposed housing developments, including 1,100 residential units?

The city is not proposing this number of units, it’s simply the potential amount of units that could fit on the acreage as identified by a residential market analysis. This is privately owned property and any potential development project would undergo the standard processes and reviews, which may include a Traffic Impact Study if deemed necessary.

8. How does bringing in more visitors and traffic to the Lake Center District balance out with the reduction of lanes on Portage Road?

The City of Portage manages traffic on a daily basis, making adjustments as needed, and as new residential projects and businesses open throughout the year. New visitors, residents, and traffic to the Lake Center District also mean an increase in customers, support for businesses, and spending of dollars within the community. If we build a safer, more beautiful, and vibrant corridor, “traffic” is envisioned to be more multimodal - not only cars but residents on foot and on bicycles, children on scooters, aging residents with walkers, all of whom would be able to safely patronize businesses and enjoy the Lake Center District through a variety of ways.

9. Where is the money coming from if it will not affect the operating budget?

There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the city’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.

Funding for certain investments within the study area will be contained within the CIP, others will not. Depending on the project, funding may also be leveraged through federal and state transportation funding, the proposed Corridor Improvement Authority, commercial corridor redevelopment partnerships, and many other funding sources that can support implementation steps.

10. Is there a plan or process for how public dollars/grant funds will be used to improve private businesses in the study area?

There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the City’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.  

Funding for certain investments within the study area will be contained within the CIP, others will not. Depending on the project, funding may also be leveraged through federal and state transportation funding, the proposed Corridor Improvement Authority, commercial corridor redevelopment partnerships, and many other funding sources that can support implementation steps.

11. What are all of these changes going to cost?

There are a variety of strategic, financial, regulatory tools that can help make this plan a reality for the Lake Center District. Planning-level cost estimates for the recommendations are in the final section of the report. Recently, the City Council allocated and approved over $6 million in the City’s FY21-31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to estimated capital improvements for Portage Road and right-of-way improvements in the Lake Center District. The FY21-31 CIP is a publicly available document that has been reviewed and approved by both the Planning Commission and City Council.

Funding for certain investments within the study area will be contained within the CIP, others will not. Depending on the project, funding may also be leveraged through federal and state transportation funding, the proposed Corridor Improvement Authority, commercial corridor redevelopment partnerships, and many other funding sources that can support implementation steps.

12. Can the City Administration better explain the tax tool that is referenced in the study?

The creation of a corridor improvement authority, much like a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is being considered and would capture tax dollars coming from that corridor. Those tax dollars would go directly back into that corridor in the form of public improvements. The tax rate will not change; these funds would be a result of the increase in property values and values from new construction.  For detailed information on the State of Michigan’s Corridor Improvement Authority please visit: corridor-improvement-authority-pa-280.pdf (miplace.org)

13. Does anyone on the Steering Committee or City Council have a monetary or financial stake in the proposed changes?

No; however, as stated at the public hearing of the July 13, 2021, City Council meeting, if the project is successful, property owners in the area will benefit from improvements to the corridor (eg; higher property values, etc.).

14. Can the city provide clarification on form-based code and how this will affect existing businesses?

The development of a form-based code is in the 1-Year Action Plan and it would go through the standard city approval process. We would also seek to educate and get feedback from residents and businesses, through this process and also during the forthcoming Zoning Code Update.

15. Are taxpayer funds being used to acquire the property 9303 Portage Road?

The City Administration plans to recommend the purchase of property within the District. Approval and the source of funds will be determined by the City Council at the related City Council meetings.

16. Could the city please ensure that residents are notified of all future Lake Center District projects as they will be brought before the Council in order to maximize opportunities for public feedback?

In recent years, the city has boosted its use of social media and listserv tools, adding to the more traditional methods of project notifications through the Portager newsletter, direct mail letters, and the media.  We will continue to employ these various methods to advise the community about city-initiated projects in the Lake Center District.  To stay up to date, sign up for Notify Me at www.portagemi.gov/list.aspx and subscribe to the Lake Center District Area category.