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RDC authorizes appraisals, opens preliminary talks with Harbor Point for Westport site
Summary
The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission authorized two appraisals for the 28-acre Westport site and discussed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with Harbor Point as the town begins preliminary development conversations.
The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission on a recorded vote authorized town counsel to seek two appraisals for the 28-acre Westport property and discussed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with Harbor Point that would allow preliminary negotiations about possible residential and commercial development.
Staff described the appraisal request as a step to “understand the value of the current site as it is.” The presenter said the commission assembled and purchased the 28-acre parcel from the Doolin School Corporation and that the appraisal work would inform future offers or negotiations. The presenter also described a draft memorandum of understanding with Harbor Point as an early, nonbinding step: “This is not a development agreement. This is just a step to get started,” the presenter said.
The discussion emphasized that the memorandum of understanding would not commit the town to pay engineering costs or to accept any particular plan. The presenter said the developer introduced a conceptual site plan to the planning commission with ideas including single-family homes, green space, and a focus on the Marquette Greenway connection; no formal planning approvals were taken at that meeting. The presenter also said the developer would absorb engineering costs rather than the town, distinguishing this effort from a prior master-developer process for Westport that involved town-funded engineering.
Commissioners asked about aesthetics and placemaking, and one commissioner noted the desire to reserve a roughly 4-acre parcel for future town use. Staff said the redevelopment commission would publicly solicit written offers for purchase and development even while discussions with Harbor Point proceed; other developers could also respond to any solicitation.
Action on the appraisal authorization passed with three votes in favor and one abstention. The commission’s next steps, as described in the meeting, are to obtain the appraisals and continue preliminary discussions; any formal development agreement would require further public review and approvals by the planning commission and town council.
The meeting record shows this item was an initial, exploratory step rather than approval of a development plan or contract.
