Comprehensive Plan -- Milestone to Celebrate

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Comprehensive Plan -- Milestone to Celebrate
by Keith Holdsworth

[Principal Planner, Comprehensive Plan, City of Indianapolis]

A milestone has been reached in the land use planning phase of the Indianapolis Insight, the update of the comprehensive plan for Marion County. The public meeting process for Pike Township, the first township planning area, has been completed.

Meetings in Pike Township began in May and concluded in September with citizens contributing a total of approximately 300 volunteer hours to the process.

Although nine land use planning meetings were slated for each township, strong community participation and input in Pike enabled city planners to gather all necessary information and complete the process in just seven meetings. City staff still plan on holding the full schedule of nine meetings in each of the other townships if necessary.

In the past, attendance has generally decreased as the meeting process continues, however that was not the case in Pike Township. Average attendance for all seven meetings was 23, however the final four meetings drew larger crowds with an average of 29 residents.

City staff was pleased with resident participation, as attendees were well informed and eager to work with city planners on land use and critical area proposals.

There are numerous changes from the 1990-1993 Comprehensive Plan for Pike Township, and among these striking differences are the areas designated as “village mixed-use.” This land use category consists of a mixture of small neighborhood office and retail locations, public and semi-public uses and also open space and light industrial development.

One of the new village mixed-use areas was New Augusta. Since the previous update to the comprehensive plan, the village of New Augusta has been declared a local historic district. Historic district status has helped protect the unique character of the village’s structures, and the village mixed-use designation will help the area retain its traditional mix of land uses.

Also of note in this update is the designation of eight critical areas in Pike Township. These areas were established:

· to protect water resources;

· to protect residential and office areas from commercial and industrial encroachment;

· to protect commercial and industrial areas from residential encroachment; and

· to accommodate industrial expansion while protecting a notable woodland and area of steep slopes.

To promote a well-coordinated overall comprehensive plan for Marion County, Pike Township participants will have two opportunities to discuss how the land uses in their township relates to those in neighboring townships. A joint meeting with Wayne Township planning area participants will take place on October 7^th (see meeting list below). A joint meeting with Washington Township planning area participants will take place as the public meeting process for that area nears completion sometime in late 2003.

The land use mapping process for the Wayne Township Planning Area continues. Upcoming meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

October 7^th , 7:00 p.m.
Joint meeting for Pike and Wayne Township planning areas
Meeting will discuss areas of mutual concern along the townships’ common boundary
Gambold Middle School
3725 Keil Avenue

October 21^st , 7:00 p.m.
Wayne Township Planning Area
Wayne Township Fire Department Administration Building
700 N. High School Road

All residents who live, work, or own property in Marion County are welcome and encouraged to provide their input at these meetings.

www.indygov.org/indianapolisinsight