Portage council approves amendment to Sprinkle Road brownfield plan as project expands

Portage City Council voted April 21 to approve an amended brownfield redevelopment plan for properties at 5960 and 5870 South Sprinkle Road, after staff told the council the project’s scope and costs have grown.

City staff member Jonathan Hallberg explained the project was originally approved April 9, 2024 with an estimated total of about $9,334,000. He said the developer has since expanded the planned addition and the new total project cost is “14,000,000 and change,” which prompted a request to increase the plan’s eligible brownfield expenses from $836,511 to roughly $1,764,379. Hallberg said the term of the brownfield capture remains the standard 10 years and the applicant is also pursuing state-level eligible capture and industrial facilities tax abatements.

Council and staff clarified that the amendment does not extend the capture term, only the dollar amounts eligible for reimbursement; Hallberg said state and local taxing authorities are participating in the approvals the developer is seeking. With no public testimony, the council closed the hearing and approved the amendment by roll call. Recorded affirmative votes included Randall, Young, Burns, Miller, Olmstead and Bridal.

The amendment reflects a larger-than-expected expansion of the previously approved project and increases the amount of redevelopment activity that the city can reimburse under its brownfield program. Mayor Patricia M. Bridal congratulated the project team and wished them success as they move forward.

What happens next: The developer will pursue any required state approvals and the locally approved amendment allows staff to account for the higher eligible costs when administering capture under the existing 10-year schedule.