Portage Township Schools wins waiver for curb and sidewalk at future middle school site
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Summary
Portage Township Schools asked the Board of Works to waive curb and sidewalk installation and associated fees for the Ellsworth Elementary replacement at 5910 Central Avenue; the board approved a combined waiver after clarifying three separate waiver requests (curb, sidewalk, fee).
Milimavrovich, director of building grounds for Portage Township Schools, asked the Portage City Board of Works to waive curb- and sidewalk-installation requirements and related fees for a property at 5910 Central Avenue, where Ellsworth Elementary is slated for demolition and a new middle school will be built. "We're seeking a waiver to of the requirements to install a curb and a sidewalk on the north side of a property located at 5910 Central Avenue," Milimavrovich said, explaining that existing curb and sidewalk do not connect to adjacent properties and would lead "to nowhere" on either side of the site.
Milimavrovich told the board the school district hoped to avoid spending on infrastructure that would be redundant once the redevelopment is complete. He also asked that fees tied to curb and sidewalk waivers be set to zero. Unidentified Speaker 1 noted the request involved another local government partner and said waiving the fee would be appropriate in that circumstance.
Board members discussed the technical structure of the request — the school had submitted separate waiver petitions for curb, sidewalk and the associated fees — and whether to consider them together. Legal counsel recommended a combined motion. After clarifying the three separate waiver elements, Unidentified Speaker 4 moved to approve the curb and sidewalk waivers and waive the fees for both; the motion was seconded and the board approved the combined waiver.
The waivers apply to work on the north side of the property at 5910 Central Avenue and were granted on the condition the board's administrative process for waivers is followed. Milimavrovich said construction of the new middle school is scheduled to begin in July and that the waiver would avoid unnecessary expense during demolition and rebuilding.
The board did not specify any additional financial contribution from the school district in the record. The board's action reduces immediate cost pressure for the school project but does not change the underlying requirement that new development ultimately comply with city standards if and when sidewalks and curbs are extended to connect to the site.
The board approved the motion during the public meeting and recorded an aye vote.
