CHAPTER 158: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Adopted 12-16-1996

Prepared for:

The Citizens and Businesses of Lake County, Indiana
The Lake County Plan Commission
Wilbur Cox, CBO
Director

With the support of the Lake County Commissioners
and the Lake County Council

Prepared by:

Department of Urban Planning in association with:
The Community-Based Projects Program
College of Architecture and Planning
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

August, 1996

This report was initially prepared for educational and informational purposes by the Ball State University Study Team. It was then modified by the Lake County Plan Commission to adopt as an official document pursuant to Indiana Code.

The Community-Based Projects Program
Center for Education, Design, Research and Service
College of Architecture and Planing
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306

August, 1996

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the people of Lake County, Indiana for their support in this endeavor and their interest in their community.

We would like to extend special thanks to:
The Lake County Plan Commission, Wilbur Cox, CBO Director
The Lake County Commissioners
The Lake County Council
The Lake County Highway Department
The Northwestern Regional Planning Commission and the elected and appointed officials of the unincorporated communities of Lake County

Ball State University Study Team
Jeff Bergman
Cynthia Bowen
J. Bryan Fagg
Tim Gardiner
Joe Iliff
Brian Koenig
Kelly Leavitt
Tanya Monroe-Ford
Jeff Noffsinger
Allison O'Neal
Steve Sievers
Greg Smith
Jennifer Valachovics

Report editors:
Jeff Bergman and Jim Segedy

Dr. James A. Segedy, AICP
Project Coordinator

George J. Wesselhoft, M.U.R.P.
Plan Commission Editor

PREFACE

Community-Based Projects Program
Ball State University

   The College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University, since admitting its first class in the September of 1966, has recognized its responsibility to not only educate and train environmental professionals, but, also provide public education and service to its constituents the citizens of Indiana. The dual focus of education and service is the primary thrust of the CBP Program, a multi-disciplinary activity that accommodates faculty and students from departments of architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning, as well as other colleges within the university.

   •   The primary goal of the CBP Program is to provide the students with a series of viable learning experiences in problem recognition, planning and design, citizen participation methods, etc. This goal is based on the philosophy/assumption that a more realistic and pragmatic understanding of these activities can best be gained by the students through their participation in a community-based, problem focused, "hands-on" format.

   •   A second instructional goal of the program is to provide public education in environmental planning and design to both the public and private sectors so that they may more effectively participate in the decision-making process that is an integral component of creative problem-solving. This goal is based on the philosophy/assumption that an informed and educated "public" is the key to an effective participatory format for all community planning and development efforts. The development of communication techniques geared to increasing public awareness and facilitating a "take part" process, is an important part of the program.

   •   The third goal of the program is to provide a public service in the form of technical assistance to both the public and private sectors in community planning and design matters. This goal is based on the assumption that responsible decisions concerning the future of Indiana's physical environment must be based on accurate, unbiased, information and objective comparisons of alternative strategies and proposals.

   •   A fourth goal of the program is to promote applied research activities that focus on the widest range of Indiana's communities. This research concerns itself with the methodologies employed in the analysis, programming, planning, and design (synthesis) of urban and rural communities and the teaching of the professionals who will be involved in them.

   Four points should be noted: [1] the potential of success for the planning and design of any project or facility, as part of a larger community, is dependent on you, as involved business leaders and citizens of Lake County, Indiana, and not us (The Planning and Design Assistance Team); [2] we are not a substitute for professional services; [3] the educational objectives of the CBP Program are of primary importance; and [4] everyone in the community can contribute in their own unique way.

   With these points in mind, and based upon evaluation of the information and issues presented for consideration, and the levels of complexity contained within the scope of this project, we offer the following in the hope that it will inspire positive action for the future development of Lake County.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   Contents

      Acknowledgments            242

      Community-Based Projects Program      243

      Contents               245

      Introduction               247

         How to Use This Document      253

         Previous Planning Efforts      257

      Study Area Profile            263

         Demographics            267

         Development Patterns         273

         Community Participation      279

      Community Goals            285

         Land-Use            289

         Community Character         303

         Housing            311

         Transportation and Corridors      319

         Infrastructure            335

         Economic Development      341

         Environment            349

         Communication and Organization   361

         The Near Future         367

      Appendices

         Appendix A: Public Financing   371

         Appendix B: Demographics      379