City of Portage Launches New Comprehensive Planning Effort; Community Invited to Participate

The City of Portage is developing a new city comprehensive plan and is inviting residents, businesses, and community stakeholders to help shape the future of the city. The city will host three community meetings to gather public feedback and ideas. The first meeting is: 

June 17, 2026 
Woodland Park Community Center 
Oakwood Room 
2100 Willowcreek Road 
Portage, Indiana 46368 
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

The first session will summarize the process, collected data, and public participation expectations for the following months. Additional meeting dates will be announced in the coming weeks. 

A comprehensive plan serves as a long-term guide for development and land use decisions, outlining the City’s goals, policies, and vision for the future. Portage’s current plan, adopted in 2009, has undergone many amendments over the years but has not been updated. Significant changes in population, development patterns, and economic conditions have made it necessary to create a new, modernized plan to accommodate city growth. Project development will take place over the next 12 months. 

“New growth trends, increasing development pressures, and emerging economic opportunities require a fresh and comprehensive look at how the city plans for the future,” noted Scott Falk from Wightman Consulting in Michigan and Indiana, the team developing the plan along with the Arsh Group of Merrillville. “Portage has evolved considerably since 2009.” 

The updated comprehensive plan will focus on several key goals, including creating a balanced land use pattern, addressing transportation and infrastructure needs, fostering livable neighborhoods, protecting natural and built resources, and ensuring sustainable, well-managed growth. Taghi Arshami of the Arsh Group also emphasized that community input will play a critical role in shaping the plan. “The outcome will reflect the priorities and vision of Portage residents, to enhance quality of life, strengthen community connections, and ensure consistent services across the city.”

As part of this effort, a community survey is available on the City of Portage website. There is also a link to a comprehensive plan site. The plan site offers in-depth information on the process and will keep residents updated throughout the 12-month project. 

The plan will also be guided by a steering committee made up of community leaders from community, nonprofits, businesses and education. 

The Portage administration encourages residents to take the planning survey, attend, share their perspectives, and help guide the future of Portage. 

For more information, please contact the following persons: 

Lilliana Rosado 

Email: Irosado@portage-in.com 

Phone: 219-361-1435 

or 

Dina Dawkins 

Email: ddawkins@portage-in.com 

Phone: 219-764-5739