PORTAGE | Representatives of the city and Meijer Stores Limited Partnership left with a better understanding of what the other side wants Monday night, but not with an agreement.

Meijer representatives want to develop a portion of the 84 acres at the southeast corner of U.S. 6 and Airport Road as a higher density M-3 residential development allowing 24 housing units per acre.

Plan Commission members told them that won't be approved.

Greg Fulk of Paragon General Construction Inc. of Indianapolis said they see the 23 acres being developed as high-scale, high-level apartments with no governmental subsidy units. Some, he said, could cater to seniors. Fulk told the commission Portage is highly desirable for apartment development and presently needs rental units.

"We want home ownership," commission member Tim Montania said. "We are looking at more condominium or rowhouse development."

Montania said rental units highly tax city services, such as the Police Department and that residents who own their homes tend to take better care of the property and neighborhood.

Member James Snyder agreed, telling the representatives the project won't be approved with M-3 zoning. He said he wanted the development to mirror the Kohl's development on the west side of Airport Road of which a portion is zoned M-1, allowing eight units per acre.

"Citizens are concerned there are too many rental units," he said, adding that Portage is "uniquely geographically located" and that there is a concern that while apartments may be constructed with "high scale" in mind, they could be sold to someone allowing governmental subsidy rentals.

What the city wants, said Fulk, "presents some unique challenges. It is something we will work to achieve. We got the clear feedback we need to move forward."

The commission wasn't required to take a vote on the sketch plan of the proposed development Monday night, which will include a 156,000-square-foot Meijer store to anchor the commercial development on the property's north end and single-family development on the far south end.

Planner Joe Csikos said the sketch review is the first step in approving a planned unit development. The developer must now present a more detailed plan with development standards to the commission for review and approval. The proposal must also be approved by the City Council.