The city of Valparaiso took in ideas for the next iteration of its comprehensive plan, Valpo Vision 2050, with an interactive workshop at Valparaiso University Wednesday evening.
“This is a major event this evening,” Mayor Jon Costas told those assembled around several maps of the city. “This project will be better because you’re here with us today.”
The project he spoke of is the first overhaul of the city’s comprehensive plan since 2013. That goes hand-in-hand with its update of the unified development ordinance, which hasn’t been refreshed since 2009. The UDO update is a two-year process that began last November.
Bob Thompson, Valparaiso’s director of planning and transit, said city staff will study the suggestions from Wednesday’s workshop and consider their inclusion in the future land use map that is expected to be completed by mid-summer.
All kinds of sub-topics came up at table 4, where a group of four considered housing and neighborhoods. “Is there a two-mile buffer?” asked Sarah Rehlander, of Valparaiso, of the city limits.
“Always surprised me how far Chesterton came down on the other side of (U.S.) 6,” added Park Board President Kevin Cornett.
“You start looking around, where isn’t there housing?” asked Board of Zoning Appeals Member Paul Reed.
At table 2, affordability was a main talking point among the members of We Make Indiana, a consortium of faith groups with the goal of making the state safer, healthier and whole. “It would be nice if the price point was $250,000 to $325,000,” said Hope Smith on the types of new housing the city needs.
After housing and neighborhoods, the groups were asked to weigh in on retail, business and employment; transportation and mobility; and public facilities, parks and open spaces. The groups were given space in a questionnaire to make suggestions and then come up with three big ideas for the city before presenting their ideas to the room at large.
To the question of what types of stores, restaurants, entertainment or services the group would like to see more of, Smith said what was repeated by many. “Not gas stations. We don’t need more gas stations,” she said.
“We need a bagel place,” Jennifer Brock said to laughter.
“Better healthcare,” added Smith. “There are so many empty buildings,” she said of former medical offices that now sit empty. “Please don’t build another.”
At the back of the room, another table was adamant that the north side needs more sidewalks when the topic switched to transportation and mobility. “So you’re not taking your life in your hands,” just trying to cross the road, said Paula Kelley.
Elizabeth Cohon, of Temple Israel, said sidewalks around schools and medical facilities should be a priority. She said she’s watched school children trudging through snow on their way to and from school in town.
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Another attendee on the north side, who asked not to be named, resented the lack of sidewalks. “Why are we even part of the city if we can’t get connected to it?” she asked. “My neighbors that have a baby carriage, they literally cannot cross the street (to Rogers Lakewood Park).”
On the topic of public facilities, parks, and open spaces, Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce member Todd Leeth was full of praise. “Quite frankly, one of the gems of Valparaiso is the parks. Let’s pat ourselves on the back,” he said.
And when the groups were asked, finally, to fill in their questionnaire on what other topics the comprehensive plan should address, Todd Etzler said, “Neighborhood commercial has not taken hold” on the northwest side. He said the goal is “the walkable city.”
Doug Watkins agreed.
“These guys are complaining about not being able to walk to get a gallon of milk,” he said of his neighbors downtown. He would also like to see brainstorming on how the city and VU can be brought closer together, as they were in generations past.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.