PORTAGE, MI (WKOZ AM/FM) – The Portage Planning Commission will hold a public hearing this Thursday to consider proposed updates to the city’s residential zoning standards as part of the city’s new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
The city says residents and property owners are encouraged to attend and provide comments during, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Portage City Hall.
Officials say the UDO is being developed to modernize the city’s zoning, subdivision, and condominium development codes and create a more cohesive framework to guide future growth in Portage. The ordinance will implement key recommendations from the Portage Forward Together 2045 Master Plan, including providing greater flexibility to meet housing needs while protecting neighborhood character and the environment.
The new ordinance will also address the city’s current patchwork of development regulations and zoning districts – some of which date back to the 1960s – by incorporating updated best practices and current approaches to housing development.
Some of the key changes proposed include allowing for smaller lot sizes and setbacks in residential areas and a wider variety of housing types. Narrower residential streets and curves are recommended to leave more room for housing lots and as standard for new public and private residential streets. The city has also proposed creating an incentive for preserving natural areas or green space in larger new developments by providing flexibility to cluster homes and use a variety of low-density housing types.
The residential zoning portion is the first phase of the UDO project. After review and recommendation by the Planning Commission, the Portage City Council will hold its own public hearing before considering adoption. A second phase addressing commercial and mixed-use zoning districts will follow later this year.
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