July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Downtown district discussed (02/19/08)
Portland City Council
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
A plan to spruce up Portland's downtown could be in the works.
Members of a local board heard Monday night that city officials are considering establishing a Historic Preservation Commission.
The purpose of the group would be to define the boundaries of a historic district and establish ordinances and guidelines for property owners in the district to follow when making exterior renovations to their buildings.
Kristi Sturtz of Sturtz Public Management, who works as the community development planner for the city, gave a presentation on the topic to members of the Portland City Council Monday.
She said the first step in the process would be to talk to the downtown property owners and see if they might be interested in such a commission being formed and to get their ideas for guidelines. Sturtz said she would like the meeting to take place in March, and for council members to be present.
If the input from the property owners is positive, a commission could be formed, with council approval. The board would have three to nine members and should include architects and historic preservation experts.
"I think the property owners is the first place to start" instead of here, said council president Bill Gibson.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said the matter was presented to council members first so they could have time to consider the issue.
Council member Kent McClung asked where the boundaries for the historic district might be.
Sturtz said the majority of the district would be located along Meridian Street, but there might be some along Main Street and near the Jay County Courthouse. On Meridian Street, the district likely would start at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles building and run south to the Arch Bridge.
The possibility of establishing a historic commission to help revitalize downtown has been in the works for some time, Sturtz said. Ball State University officials studied the historical significance in downtown Portland in the 1990s.
"We don't really need another study right now," she said. "We need to see something happen."
Hosier said after the meeting that he also felt it was time to move forward with renovating the downtown area.
Sturtz said during Monday's meeting that if the district is formed grants could be sought, or funds from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district could be used for improvements.
The council took no action on the matter.
In other business, council members voted to prohibit parking along the south side of Dogwood and Honeysuckle lanes.
However, Jay County Commissioners pointed out today that the street has never been legally dedicated to the city and is owned by the county because of back taxes. Bill Hinkle, who is attorney for both the city and the county commissioners, will take care of the paperwork to transfer ownership to the city of Portland.
The possibility of forbidding parking along one or both sides of the streets was brought up at the Feb. 4 council meeting by councilman Todd Nichols. He said he was concerned there was not enough room for snowplows or firetrucks when other vehicles are parked along the streets. Nichols works for the city's street department.
Harker suggested that parking be prohibited along the south sides of the streets to make more room for snowplows.
Council members Don Gillespie, Mike Brewster, Nichols, Judy Aker, Bill Gibson and Kip Robinette voted to prohibit the parking. Councilman Kent McClung voted against the matter. He cast the lone dissenting vote because he recently spoke to people who live on those streets and most were not in favor of prohibiting parking along the streets.
"I think the majority didn't see the need" to prohibit parking along the streets, McClung said during the meeting.
Also Monday, council members:
•Took no action on councilman Mike Brewster's suggestion that a flashing red light be hung at Commerce and Main streets to remind drivers to stop at the four-way stop.
Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said Monday that during 2007, there were three accidents and one person was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection. Sours said he felt the stop signs at the intersection are marked properly and a flashing light is not needed.
Brewster initiated discussions on the matter at the Feb 4 council meeting, stating that he was worried about the safety of the intersection.
•Voted to have signs posted reminding semi truck drivers that they are not allowed to drive on East Adams Street.
Ruth Brinkerhoff, who lives on the street, said people have been driving semis on the street and are tearing up yards when they turn onto Adams Street from Meridian Street and Wayne Street.
•Voted 6 to 1 to donate $10,000 to the John Jay Center for Learning. The city typically makes an annual donation to the JJCL.
Councilman Todd Nichols cast the lone dissenting vote. He said after the meeting that he voted against the matter because WorkOne is a tenant in the Weiler Building, which will soon be the new home of the JJCL. He said he felt the learning institution did not need the city's money because of the income generated from WorkOne.
•Granted several temporary street closure requests.
Dave Frasher of the Arch Bridge Kroozers asked for temporary street closures for spring and fall cruise-ins and the second annual Welcome Home to Portland Festival.
For the cruise-ins, Frasher asked for portions of East Main Street, West Main Street, Court Street, Commerce Street and Ship Street to be closed on May 17 and Oct. 4. He also asked for East Main Street to be closed between Meridian Street and Harrison Street on the evenings of May 16 and Oct. 3 for small cruise-ins.
For the Welcome Home to Portland Festival, he asked for portions of East and West Main streets, Commerce Street and Ship Street to be closed Aug. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. Council members also granted him permission to have a parade through downtown Portland at 4:30 p.m. that day. The festival will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
•Heard Hosier report that an official with the Indiana Department of Transportation will come to the city and monitor the new turn signals at Votaw and Meridian streets.
Council members said at a previous council meeting that they were concerned the turn signal was too long, stalling traffic.[[In-content Ad]]One more step and Walgreens is a go.
Members of a local board have given the initial nod to vacate two alleys and rezone property needed for the project, which is expected to be built near Meridian and Votaw streets in Portland.
The Portland City Council is set to vote March 3 on second and final reading to vacate a north-south alley located between Ben Hawkins Avenue and Meridian Street, and an east-west alley that starts at Ben Hawkins Avenue and ends at the Village Pantry parking lot They also are scheduled to make their final vote on a request to rezone three of the nine properties needed for the project to neighborhood business from R-4 residential.
Council members approved both requests on first reading Monday night. The ordinance to vacate the alleys includes two stipulations. One requires any utilities located in the alleys to be found and moved, and the other states the ordinance will take effect after The Faigus Group purchases the properties needed for the project.
The Faigus Group, Highland Park, Ill., requested the rezoning and for the alleys to be vacated on behalf of property owners Larry and Sandy Bubp, Rayma Frankenfield and Carolyn Huey.
The properties that need to be rezoned for the project are located at 113, 123 and 129 W. McNeal St. The other six lots currently are zoned neighborhood business.
Plans call for the pharmacy to be 13,650-square feet and have 67 parking spaces. The north end of the building will have a drive-up pharmacy. The store is set to be built between Village Pantry and Ben Hawkins Avenue.
Before council members voted Monday night, a public hearing was held. The only audience member who commented was Randy Fisher of Fisher Reality, who is selling the properties needed for the project. He said that the Jay/Portland Building and Planning office has received no complaints about the rezoning request or request to vacate the alleys.
City attorney Bill Hinkle said the company which owns Village Pantry also did not object to the request to vacate the alleys.
Jeff Harker, city street and park department superintendent, said the utilities in the alleys, if there are any, should be located by the March 3 council meeting.
Members of a local board heard Monday night that city officials are considering establishing a Historic Preservation Commission.
The purpose of the group would be to define the boundaries of a historic district and establish ordinances and guidelines for property owners in the district to follow when making exterior renovations to their buildings.
Kristi Sturtz of Sturtz Public Management, who works as the community development planner for the city, gave a presentation on the topic to members of the Portland City Council Monday.
She said the first step in the process would be to talk to the downtown property owners and see if they might be interested in such a commission being formed and to get their ideas for guidelines. Sturtz said she would like the meeting to take place in March, and for council members to be present.
If the input from the property owners is positive, a commission could be formed, with council approval. The board would have three to nine members and should include architects and historic preservation experts.
"I think the property owners is the first place to start" instead of here, said council president Bill Gibson.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said the matter was presented to council members first so they could have time to consider the issue.
Council member Kent McClung asked where the boundaries for the historic district might be.
Sturtz said the majority of the district would be located along Meridian Street, but there might be some along Main Street and near the Jay County Courthouse. On Meridian Street, the district likely would start at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles building and run south to the Arch Bridge.
The possibility of establishing a historic commission to help revitalize downtown has been in the works for some time, Sturtz said. Ball State University officials studied the historical significance in downtown Portland in the 1990s.
"We don't really need another study right now," she said. "We need to see something happen."
Hosier said after the meeting that he also felt it was time to move forward with renovating the downtown area.
Sturtz said during Monday's meeting that if the district is formed grants could be sought, or funds from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district could be used for improvements.
The council took no action on the matter.
In other business, council members voted to prohibit parking along the south side of Dogwood and Honeysuckle lanes.
However, Jay County Commissioners pointed out today that the street has never been legally dedicated to the city and is owned by the county because of back taxes. Bill Hinkle, who is attorney for both the city and the county commissioners, will take care of the paperwork to transfer ownership to the city of Portland.
The possibility of forbidding parking along one or both sides of the streets was brought up at the Feb. 4 council meeting by councilman Todd Nichols. He said he was concerned there was not enough room for snowplows or firetrucks when other vehicles are parked along the streets. Nichols works for the city's street department.
Harker suggested that parking be prohibited along the south sides of the streets to make more room for snowplows.
Council members Don Gillespie, Mike Brewster, Nichols, Judy Aker, Bill Gibson and Kip Robinette voted to prohibit the parking. Councilman Kent McClung voted against the matter. He cast the lone dissenting vote because he recently spoke to people who live on those streets and most were not in favor of prohibiting parking along the streets.
"I think the majority didn't see the need" to prohibit parking along the streets, McClung said during the meeting.
Also Monday, council members:
•Took no action on councilman Mike Brewster's suggestion that a flashing red light be hung at Commerce and Main streets to remind drivers to stop at the four-way stop.
Portland Police Chief Bob Sours said Monday that during 2007, there were three accidents and one person was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection. Sours said he felt the stop signs at the intersection are marked properly and a flashing light is not needed.
Brewster initiated discussions on the matter at the Feb 4 council meeting, stating that he was worried about the safety of the intersection.
•Voted to have signs posted reminding semi truck drivers that they are not allowed to drive on East Adams Street.
Ruth Brinkerhoff, who lives on the street, said people have been driving semis on the street and are tearing up yards when they turn onto Adams Street from Meridian Street and Wayne Street.
•Voted 6 to 1 to donate $10,000 to the John Jay Center for Learning. The city typically makes an annual donation to the JJCL.
Councilman Todd Nichols cast the lone dissenting vote. He said after the meeting that he voted against the matter because WorkOne is a tenant in the Weiler Building, which will soon be the new home of the JJCL. He said he felt the learning institution did not need the city's money because of the income generated from WorkOne.
•Granted several temporary street closure requests.
Dave Frasher of the Arch Bridge Kroozers asked for temporary street closures for spring and fall cruise-ins and the second annual Welcome Home to Portland Festival.
For the cruise-ins, Frasher asked for portions of East Main Street, West Main Street, Court Street, Commerce Street and Ship Street to be closed on May 17 and Oct. 4. He also asked for East Main Street to be closed between Meridian Street and Harrison Street on the evenings of May 16 and Oct. 3 for small cruise-ins.
For the Welcome Home to Portland Festival, he asked for portions of East and West Main streets, Commerce Street and Ship Street to be closed Aug. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. Council members also granted him permission to have a parade through downtown Portland at 4:30 p.m. that day. The festival will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
•Heard Hosier report that an official with the Indiana Department of Transportation will come to the city and monitor the new turn signals at Votaw and Meridian streets.
Council members said at a previous council meeting that they were concerned the turn signal was too long, stalling traffic.[[In-content Ad]]One more step and Walgreens is a go.
Members of a local board have given the initial nod to vacate two alleys and rezone property needed for the project, which is expected to be built near Meridian and Votaw streets in Portland.
The Portland City Council is set to vote March 3 on second and final reading to vacate a north-south alley located between Ben Hawkins Avenue and Meridian Street, and an east-west alley that starts at Ben Hawkins Avenue and ends at the Village Pantry parking lot They also are scheduled to make their final vote on a request to rezone three of the nine properties needed for the project to neighborhood business from R-4 residential.
Council members approved both requests on first reading Monday night. The ordinance to vacate the alleys includes two stipulations. One requires any utilities located in the alleys to be found and moved, and the other states the ordinance will take effect after The Faigus Group purchases the properties needed for the project.
The Faigus Group, Highland Park, Ill., requested the rezoning and for the alleys to be vacated on behalf of property owners Larry and Sandy Bubp, Rayma Frankenfield and Carolyn Huey.
The properties that need to be rezoned for the project are located at 113, 123 and 129 W. McNeal St. The other six lots currently are zoned neighborhood business.
Plans call for the pharmacy to be 13,650-square feet and have 67 parking spaces. The north end of the building will have a drive-up pharmacy. The store is set to be built between Village Pantry and Ben Hawkins Avenue.
Before council members voted Monday night, a public hearing was held. The only audience member who commented was Randy Fisher of Fisher Reality, who is selling the properties needed for the project. He said that the Jay/Portland Building and Planning office has received no complaints about the rezoning request or request to vacate the alleys.
City attorney Bill Hinkle said the company which owns Village Pantry also did not object to the request to vacate the alleys.
Jeff Harker, city street and park department superintendent, said the utilities in the alleys, if there are any, should be located by the March 3 council meeting.
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