Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 24, 1966.
City ‘Self-Sufficient’
“Valparaiso’s economy is pretty self-sufficient as a result of expansion by local industries,” directors of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce were told Wednesday night at their monthly meeting at Wellmans.
Speaker was Don Reynolds, member of the urban planning consulting firm which for the past 11 months has been engaged in preparing revisions to the city’s master plan.
Also present were Everett Lembke, president of the Valparaiso Planning commission and Paul Fisher, Porter County Planning commission executive vice president.
30,000 By 1990
Based on an economic study of the city, planners believe that Valparaiso’s population will reach 30,000 by 1990, Reynolds said.
He described Valparaiso as “rather unusual” in several respects. He noted that the suburban areas outside of the city are well developed, which he said, is a situation generally only found around larger cities; and that there is relatively little land available for development within the city limits.
Reynolds pointed out that there are attractive sites outside the city including lake and timber areas. Inside the city he said much of the vacant land is not suitable for development.
Industries Stable
He noted that the local industries are “very stable” and that they are closely tied to the community as to their needs for supplies and the products they produce.
The 30,000 city population figure, the speaker said, assumes that there will be “fairly aggressive annexation of land development”.
Future growth is seen primarily to the north and the west.
The revision will call for numerous road changes and implementation of bypasses around the city, it was noted.
Reynolds said that the success of the city’s master plan will depend upon its close integration with the county’s master plan.
Future of industry is foreseen east and south of the city, due to its excellent highways, expanded municipal airport and railroad facilities.
Councilman Lembke, following Reynold’s talk, invited interested residents of the community to attend planning meetings the second Tuesday of each month, “We need your help,” he added.
Meanwhile Chamber President Max Dickey reported that airport runway expansion dedication ceremonies were discussed Wednesday afternoon at a meeting at Wellmans. Tentatively it is planned for “early June”, but details are still to be finalized.
