By Jon Seidel/Post-Tribune staff writer
PORTAGE — Community development leaders in Portage did not hesitate Tuesday to recommend that Bass Pro Shops be given special permission to build on the north side of the city.
A city ordinance requires that any retail development in the city’s Ameriplex property that exceeds 2 acres must obtain a “special amendment” to build.
“This is where it needs to go,” said city engineer Craig Hendrix at Tuesday’s meeting of the Development Review Committee.
While city leaders worked out the construction details, Bass Pro Shops continues to negotiate with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for state incentives.
Weston Sedgwick, spokesman for the IEDC, said he could not comment further.
However, representatives of Holladay Properties, which owns Ameriplex, brought plans for the store with them to the meeting.
Project designer Ryan Kelly said the Bass Pro Shops store will be 130,000 square feet, and be located on 15.5 acres of property.
Plans show Bass Pro Shops being built on the south side of the industrial park, and drawings include the features, like a Tracker boat showroom, that were promised when the store was announced.
In 2000, when Ameriplex itself was in development, some city leaders wanted to keep U.S. 6 as Portage’s primary commercial corridor.
Others, however, wanted to keep Ameriplex available as an option for “big-box” retailers.
At Tuesday’s meeting, committee members agreed that the only way Bass Pro Shops is coming to Portage is through Ameriplex.
“This is a unique kind of situation,” Monroe said.
Monroe recommended the Portage Plan Commission grant a special amendment to Bass Pro Shops. The commission will consider it during its Feb. 6 meeting.