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Steve StrainsDeputy Director/Director of Planning

Gabrielle BiciunasLong Range Planner

Kathy LutherDirector of Environmental Programs

AGENDA

•What is NIRPC Steve

• 2040 Plan Overview Steve

• Creating Livable Communities Gabrielle 

•Marquette Plan Update Kathy

• Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission

• Covers Lake, La Porte, and Porter Counties

Created in 1965

Council of Governments

Metropolitan Planning Organization

What is NIRPC? The Northwest Indiana Region

• 3 counties:  Lake, Porter, and LaPorte

• 41 cities and towns

• 2010 population: 771,815

• 1,520 square miles of land

• 45 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline

• 4 Interstates

• 1 commuter rail line

• Part of the 16 county Chicago combined statistical area

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NIRPC 2040 ComprehensiveRegional Plan

A Vision for Northwest Indiana

• The 2040 Plan is built on a “community‐based regional consensus” ‐ the outcome of numerous public involvement meetings with residents and decision makers.

• Overall direction was conceived at the Forum on the Future of Northwest Indiana, a 500‐person visioning event held in December 2008.

INVision Northwest Indiana - Stretching from the treasured shores of Lake Michigan to the historic banks of the Kankakee River and committed to an ethic of sustainability:

A Vibrant Region

Our economy is thriving; our people are well-educated; our growth is planned; and natural and rural areas are valued and protected.

A Vibrant Region

Our economy is thriving; our people are well-educated; our growth is planned; and natural and rural areas are valued and protected.

A Revitalized Region

Urban areas are renewed, and our environment is clean.

An Accessible Region

Our people are connected to each other and to equal opportunities for working, playing, living and learning.

An Accessible Region

Our people are connected to each other and to equal opportunities for working, playing, living and learning.

A United Region

Celebrating our diversity, we work together as a community across racial, ethnic, political and cultural lines for the good of the region.

A United Region

Celebrating our diversity, we work together as a community across racial, ethnic, political and cultural lines for the good of the region.

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SUPPORT URBAN REINVESTMENT

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND WATERSHEDS

INTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

• Strengthen the urban core• Preserve the cultural and historic assets of Northwest Indiana

• Avoid or reduce adverse consequences• Improve mobility and access to jobs

• Conserve the green infrastructure that supports native species• Maintain natural ecological processes, protects air and water

resources• Contribute to the health and resiliency of the region.

• Develop a multimodal system, including enhanced public mass transit and non-motorized transportation to improve mobility, access to jobs and improved quality of life for all.

THE PRINCIPLES

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SUPPORT URBAN REINVESTMENT

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND WATERSHEDS

INTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

• Strengthen the urban core• Preserve the cultural and historic assets of Northwest Indiana

• Avoid or reduce adverse consequences• Improve mobility and access to jobs

• Conserve the green infrastructure that supports native species• Maintain natural ecological processes, protect air and water

resources• Contribute to the health and resiliency of the region.

• Develop a multimodal system, including enhanced public mass transit and non-motorized transportation to improve mobility, access to jobs and improved quality of life for all.

THE PRINCIPLES

SUPPORT URBAN REINVESTMENT

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND WATERSHEDS

INTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

• Strengthen the urban core• Preserve the cultural and historic assets of Northwest Indiana

• Avoid or reduce adverse consequences• Improve mobility and access to jobs

• Conserve the green infrastructure that supports native species• Maintain natural ecological processes, protect air and water

resources• Contribute to the health and resiliency of the region.

• Develop a multimodal system, including enhanced public mass transit and non-motorized transportation to improve mobility, access to jobs and improved quality of life for all.

THE PRINCIPLES

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SUPPORT URBAN REINVESTMENT

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND WATERSHEDS

INTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

• Strengthen the urban core• Preserve the cultural and historic assets of Northwest Indiana

• Avoid or reduce adverse consequences• Improve mobility and access to jobs

• Conserve the green infrastructure that supports native species• Maintain natural ecological processes, protect air and water

resources• Contribute to the health and resiliency of the region.

• Develop a multimodal system, including enhanced public mass transit and non-motorized transportation to improve mobility, access to jobs and improved quality of life for all.

THE PRINCIPLES

Ecological Assets Managed Lands Priority Forests Biodiversity Hydric Soils

Water Resources Wetlands Streams and Lakes Floodplains

Vulnerable Groundwater

SUPPORT URBAN REINVESTMENT

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND WATERSHEDS

INTEGRATE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

• Strengthen the urban core• Preserve the cultural and historic assets of Northwest Indiana

• Avoid or reduce adverse consequences• Improve mobility and access to jobs

• Conserve the green infrastructure that supports native species• Maintain natural ecological processes, protect air and water

resources• Contribute to the health and resiliency of the region.

• Develop a multimodal system, including enhanced public mass transit and non-motorized transportation to improve mobility, access to jobs and improved quality of life for all.

THE PRINCIPLES

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NIRPC 2040 ComprehensiveRegional Plan

The CRP stresses a number of elements that include:

• Growth & Conservation

• Transportation 

• Environment & Green Infrastructure

• Human & Economic Resources

• Stewardship & Governance

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The NWI region is expected to add 170,000 people and 80,000 new jobs by 2040 

Accommodating this growth will 

Overburden the region’s transportation network

Increase development pressure on the region’s natural lands, farmland and forest lands.

Vacant land already exists in urbanized areas of existing communities. 

However, the development trend has been shifting away from the more historically urban portions of the region and into unincorporated areas.  

Existing land supply meets the growth needs and demands through 2040.

New strategies to address this growth

2040 Plan Findings

Presented By:

Long Range Planner

Lake & Porter Counties

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• To encourage livability and accessibility, NIRPC has called for transit-oriented development and Livable Centers Initiative in the 2040 Plan.

• Livable Centers Initiative is one of the principal urban framework strategies for the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan, which is fundamental to achieve the preferred regional strategy for land use, transportation and environmental balance in Northwest Indiana.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)

Creating Livable Communities (CLC) Funding Program

Livable Centers clustering many different land uses in a compact area gives people the opportunity to accomplish various activities without using a car.

• Livable Centers make it easy to reach multiple destinations by foot, bicycle, car or transit.

• A well-designed street and sidewalk system provides good connectivity and safety for everyone.

• Livable Centers concentrate housing, employment, shopping, and entertainment in areas with good pedestrian networks

Poor Connectivity

Good Connectivity

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• Compact, mixed use development- building facing streets

• Short block length (400’-600’)

• Having unique and distinct design characteristicwith shops offer local products and services

• Many Access options including pedestrian lanes, bike lanes, trails, transit, and roadways

• Convenient, safe and easy street crossing

• Well-maintained public streets

• Public gathering places

• Serving different activities that occurred both daytime and night time

• Jobs and housing

• On-street, shared, structured or rear parking areas

• Transit stops and amenities

• Traditional street grid

• Access management

• Pedestrian-friendly speed limits

• Short block lengths

• Bicycle lanes

• Wide sidewalks

• Public spaces

• Minimal building setbacks

• Existing infrastructure

• Analyze region as a whole• Block Size• Street Grid• Population, housing, and employment density• Proximity of schools, civic halls, transit, and trails

• Read the municipality’s plans and past projects• Learned about current projects and initiatives

• Met with individual municipality planners and other staff• Listened to their plans, hopes, and considerations for their town or

city• Drew boundaries directly on the maps using their insight and

NIRPC’s analysis

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How to Use the Report?

• Use the Introduction section to get yourself familiar with:

• Livable Centers definition and benefits.

• How center are defined

• Livability checklist• NIRPC Methodology

• Find your CommunityTransit-Related Projects should be located within half a mile from a transit stop or station.

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NIRPC/Walk Score Methodologies

Walk Score® Description

90–100Walker's Paradise

Daily errands do not require a car.

70–89Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot.

50–69Somewhat WalkableSome errands can be

accomplished on foot.

25–49Car-Dependent

Most errands require a car.

0–24Car-Dependent

Almost all errands require a car.

Walk Score Analysis:

• Walking routes to nearby amenities.

• Points are awarded based on the distance to amenities

• Amenities within a 5 minute walk (.25 miles) are given maximum points.

• The more distant amenities

the more decline in score with no points given after a 30 minute walk.

• Pedestrian friendliness is measured by analyzing

• population density

• road metrics such as block length and intersection density http://www.walkscore.com/

NIRPC Analysis

• Block Length (400’-600’)

• Street Grid/Connectivity

• Population, housing, and employment density

• Proximity of schools, civic

halls, transit, and trails

• Transit

• Mixed use

• Building Setback

Creating Livable Communities (CLC)Funding Program

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The purpose of this funding is to support community-based transportation/ land use projects that bring vitality to downtown areas, neighborhoods, station areas, commercial cores, and transit corridors.

Putting real transportation dollars behind its planning efforts, NIRPC developed the new funding program to help ensure that transportation investments will be linked to the vitality of northwestern Indiana’s communities.

$400,000 over the next two years has been identified to provide tangible support to communities in Lake & Porter Counties seeking to enhance their center places, with some prime beneficiaries being those communities able to take advantage of also TOD opportunities.

Overview: To support community-based transportation/ land use projects

that bring vitality to downtown areas, neighborhoods, station areas, commercial cores, and transit corridors.

To support projects that are guided by the principle of “place-making”

Requirements / Eligibility: Local Governments and non-profit organizations

Projects should be located in the Livable Centers Map or Transit Area Map.

Types of Grants: Fund planning projects or pre-development plan that

revitalize: existing centers, neighborhood, downtown, transit stop or transit corridors, TOD ordinance, and/or

Prepare projects to compete for grants in the Capital Projects category.

• NIRPC has awarded seven grants totaling $402,500 of STP funding to seven communities. The total funding with the local match is $495,500. These communities are:

• Chesterton

• Crown Point

• East Chicago

• Gary

• Highland

• Porter

• Winfield

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Comprehensive vision for the Lake Michigan Shoreline

Livable Lakefront- Live Work Play

Recapture 75 percent of the lakeshore for public use;

Establish a minimum setback from water’s edge of 200 feet;

Create a continuous trail network through northwest Indiana

Marquette Plan Goals

Marquette Greenway = 51.2 Continuous Miles state line to state line.

Marquette Plan Vision Area

Maintained and Implemented by a collaboration of the NWI RDA, NIRPC, and DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) as well as local communities.

The Update

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Integrate The Plan

Consolidated Frameworks from Phase I and Phase II in draft

Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements

Public Access, Recreation, and Tourism

Green Infrastructure and  Environmental Protection 

Livable Communities

Land Revitalization and  Economic Development 

Community Coordination

Culture and History  New Framework!

Public Access Overview

Public Access Overview

Goal:  75% of Lakeshore with Public Access

= 33.8 miles – need to gain 9.5  

What Is Public Access?

See it

Walk it

Swim it

Boat it

Fish it

Not all places can be all things to all people! 

Lake Michigan Access State Line Energy

Miles Percent

Total  45 100.00%

accessible now  24.2 53.78%

w/ whole stateline  25.05 55.67%

w/ half stateline  24.7 54.89%

w/ partial stateline  24.5 54.44%

 

Stateline Marquette Trail 

Miles

Giant Loop  1.4

Trail with spur on western side  1

Trail w/ no spur  0.5

 

Marquette Greenway

Trail from Illinois to Michigan State Line

Total Network 51.2 miles

16.9 miles built = 34.3%

14 additional miles funded in the next 2‐3 years. 

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Cultural and Historical AssetsCULTURE AND HISTORY

GENERAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1 . H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n P l a n n i n g

2 . F e d e r a l H i s t o r i c D e s i g n a t i o n

3 . H i s t o r i c R e s o u r c e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n

4 . E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t I n c e n t i v e s

5 . D e v e l o p m e n t a n d D e s i g n S t a n d a r d s

6 . C o m p r e h e n s i v e , M a s t e r a n d S u b a r e a D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n s

7 . P u b l i c - P r i v a t e P a r t n e r s h i p s

8 . E n v i r o n m e n t a l & S u s t a i n a b i l i t y P r i n c i p l e s

9 . A r t s a n d C u l t u r e D i s t r i c t s

1 0 . H e r i t a g e To u r i s m

Marquette Sub Area Realignment 

Hammond

Whiting

East Chicago 

Gary West 

Gary Downtown/East

Portage/Ogden Dunes  

Duneland 

Michigan City

LaPorte County North Shore

Each Update to include: Sub Area Vision

Projects Completed & In Progress Funding Investments

Future Plans and ChangesMarquette Successes

Challenges

Hammond Sub Area Maps

All Sub Area plan pages are in draft format for local review and vetting

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Whiting Sub Area Maps

All Sub Area plan pages are in draft format for local review and vetting

East Chicago Sub‐Area Maps

All Sub Area plan pages are in draft format for local review and vetting

Gary West Sub‐Area Maps

All Sub Area plan pages are in draft format for local review and vetting

Gary East Sub Area Maps

Sub Area plan pages are currently being assembled for local review and vetting

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LaPorte Sub‐Area Maps

Sub Area plan pages are currently being assembled for local review and vetting

Next Steps Complete Porter County Sub‐Area mapping

Additional Green Infrastructure mapping

Editing Framework and Subareas text and desk‐top publishing

Vetting maps with cities and lakeshore property owners

Additional Public Open Houses

Work with RDA to build website 

Thank you to:

RDA

Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program

Tiffany Tolbert, Indiana Landmarks

Eman Ibrahim, Jack Eskin, Sarah Geinosky – NIRPC Staff

www.NIRPC.orgContact Information

Kathy LutherDirector of Environmental Programs

kluther@nirpc.org

Gabrielle BiciunasLong Range Planner 

gbiciunas@nirpc.org

Steve StrainsDeputy Director/Director of Planning

sstrains@nirpc.org

6100 Southport RoadPortage IN 46368Phone: 219‐763‐6060