The February City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 17 at 7pm at Fishers City Hall. The meeting agenda is chockfull of links to supporting documents. This is a rundown of some agenda items and my interpretation of them.
2. Announcements. Thanks to Councilor Cecilia Coble and the Advisory Committee on Disability and City of Fishers staff members for their work in creating a full month of events and celebrations for Disability Awareness Month coming in March. Check out the full schedule of March events.
4. Presentations. Fishers Junior High’s We the People Team recently won first place at a state competition and qualified to compete in a national competition in Washington, DC in May. The team is asking the community for their encouragement and financial support. bit.ly/fjhwtp2020
I had the privilege to serve as a We the People judge for the first time last year and I was very impressed by the Constitutional knowledge and public speaking confidence of each student. They are champions!
7. Request to Approve Amendment to Rules of Procedure for the City Council – 2ND READING
This draft document specifies the proposed new City Council Meeting procedures.
The drafted procedure would require land use zoning issues to be brought to the City Council first, before the Plan Commission reviews it and opens it up to resident feedback. For the past few years, the City Council’s review was after the Plan Commission. I am supportive of this change back. It would provide the Plan Commission more information to work with from the very beginning. I think there would be a better chance of residents becoming aware of land use matters that they care about this way, too. The Plan Commission is not on residents’ radar, unfortunately. In my opinion, the Plan Commission is like the chorus of a musical. They work hard, perfect all the details and although they are rather unknown, they make the whole production successful. Bravo!
The Plan Commission is a separate body of appointees that make recommendations on city land use. The Plan Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm at City Hall. If a resident wants to state a concern or support for a pending land use issue, the only chance to address the body of decision-makers in person is to speak at a Public Hearing at a Plan Commission meeting.
Learn more here: https://www.fishers.in.us/271/Plan-Commission
The 3rd reading and final vote occurs in March.
8 & 9 are two components of the same voluntary annexation.
8. Request to approve a resolution adopting the Fiscal Plan for the Q-Comm, Lot 2 Annexation
9. Request to approve a voluntary annexation of one (1) Lot known as the Q-Comm, Lot 2 property – 3RD READING
This property is located at 11219 E 126th St. https://goo.gl/maps/f1o9QDgyAkLpxbNo8
It is a 0.4-acre area located the Southwest quadrant of 126th St, as it crosses over I-69. This property is across 126th St from Billericay Park, in the North Central District.
(Billericay is pronounced Bill-er-Rick-ee. I know this one for sure because I have actually visited Fishers’ sister city, Billericay, Essex, UK! Here’s how to remember it … “So, who are you going to the dance with?” “I dunno. Either Bill ‘er Ricky!)
Have you ever heard that a map of the City of Fishers looks like Swiss cheese? The holes in the map are properties that are not included in the City’s boundaries – but it would be good for the city (and hopefully, the landowner) if it would be.
A voluntary annexation is when a land-owner initiates the process for the City to include the landowner’s property into the City boundaries. After annexation process is completed, the landowner will then pay City taxes and receive City services. Most of the time, the voluntary annexation is precipitated by the landowner’s desire to improve or change the property in some way.
Item 8 is the consideration of the written fiscal plan. Every annexation needs to have a fiscal plan first. It details the services the City will provide and the taxes that the landowner will pay. https://www.fishers.in.us/DocumentCenter/View/21342/ANX-19-12—Fiscal-Plan–2—021720
Item 9 is the 3rd Reading of annexation ordinance. https://www.fishers.in.us/DocumentCenter/View/21361/Q-Comm-Lot-2—1—Ordinance—012120
10. Request to approve a Text Amendment to the Parkside PUD ordinance concerning the use and development of real estate – FINAL READING
This property is located on the East side of State Road 37, between 126th St and 131st St. It includes Texas Roadhouse (yummy rolls), Parkside Animal Hospital (Kluski’s vet), and DQ (Dilly Bars) in the North Central district. Because of the SR 37 improvements, buildings will now measure closer to the street. 25 feet instead of 50 feet. The number of feet of the shorter front setback needs to be revised in the documentation as a text amendment to the Parkside PUD Ordinance.
A while back, I pronounced “PUD” like “pud” (rhymes with “bud”). That’s wrong! It is “P.U.D.” – an acronym which stands for Planned Unified Development. It is a document that states the standards of an area of land which is developed thoughtfully as a single entity.
Sam DeLong is the City Councilor who represents North Central District.
11. Consideration of a Text Amendment to Chapter 6 and Chapter 8 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) as it relates to Open Space Standards – FINAL READING
There’s a detail in the proposed amendment to the non-residential Open Space Standards that’s been tricky to finalize.
Fishers has standards that developers must adhere to. These standards are specified in the UDO, the Unified Development Ordinance. That’s “U.D.O.” Not “you-doh.”
One of the standards pertains to open space, which is land that is set aside and doesn’t have a building on it, like green space. Should Fishers UDO allow smaller development that is under 2 acres to be held by the same standards as large development projects? Or should smaller development projects be exempt, since the requirements would be more difficult for them to achieve? City Staff is recommending a good compromise, I believe. Fifty percent of the assessed value of the land area of the new non-residential project would be required for open space. Only 25% of the assessed value for projects that would apply to non-residential projects that are two (2) acres or less. This retains Fishers standards but is sensitive to the constraints of smaller projects.
I’m skipping now to 15, because it is related to 11.
15. Consideration of a Text Amendment establishing a Payment In Lieu of Open Space (PILOS) Fee as it relates to the Open Space Standards within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) – 1ST READING
PILOS is Payment In Lieu Of Open Space. This is a new term for me. I will pronounce it “Pie-Lohz” for now and hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong.
PILOS is an option for developers that relaxes standards and still accomplishes the City’s goals.
Residential developers could elect to pay a fee in exchange for a smaller minimum open space standards. The fee would be directed to support public parks.
Commercial developers could also elect to pay a fee in exchange for a smaller minimum open space standards. This fee would be directed to support public art.
This is a helpful document to learn more.
This is a first reading. There will not be any public comment about it but a good introduction to the idea.
12 & 13 are two components of a new proposed project.
12. Request to approve a rezone from R2 Residential to PUD-R for a new single-family residential development to be called Iron Pointe – 1ST READING
13. Request to approve a voluntary annexation of Iron Pointe property – 1ST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING
This property is located at 10777 E 106th St. https://goo.gl/maps/wHeZ5qFYy6bTPxja6
It is a 20-acre area located on the Southeast corner of 106th St and Mollenkopf Rd. This property is adjacent to Windermere, near Geist Reservoir, in the South East District.
Iron Pointe is a proposed new 52-home development. The homes would all be ranches, between 1,683-1,953 sq ft. The price point is $350,000-$450,000.
I advocate for balanced housing opportunities across our city. Fishers has significant gaps in our housing opportunities, therefore, we cannot accommodate all lifestages. I look forward to learning about the housing gap that this proposed new neighborhood fills for our city. What are your thoughts? How will this new development impact Windermere neighbors? I encourage you to reach out to me an/or attend this meeting.
A PUBLIC HEARING means that anyone can step up to the microphone and comment on this topic. This is the only opportunity to speak up and address the City Council on this matter. The City Council President will open the public hearing by asking if anyone would like to speak. If no one indicates that they want to speak, the public hearing can be closed quickly. So, please indicate immediately that you have something to say when the public hearing is opened. Otherwise, you may miss your chance.
There should also be an opportunity for public comment at the Public Hearing at that Plan Commission Meeting. That meeting is 6pm on Wed March 11 at City Hall.
Pete Peterson is the City Councilor who represents South East District.
14. Request to approve a voluntary annexation of one lot known as the Atkins property – 1ST READING & 2ND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING
Almost 10-acres at 6110 E 106th Street, near Eller Road and Heritage Park at White River in the South West District. https://goo.gl/maps/8pTF7i5ejDYdd8kq7
A PUBLIC HEARING means that anyone can step up to the microphone and comment on this topic. This is the only opportunity to speak up and address the City Council on this matter. The City Council President will open the public hearing by asking if anyone would like to speak. If no one indicates that they want to speak, the public hearing can be closed quickly. So, please indicate immediately that you have something to say when the public hearing is opened. Otherwise, you may miss your chance.
A voluntary annexation is when a land-owner initiates the process for the City to include the landowner’s property into the City boundaries. After annexation process is completed, the landowner will then pay City taxes and receive City services. Most of the time, the voluntary annexation is precipitated by the landowner’s desire to improve or change the property in some way.
The 3rd reading and final vote occurs in March.
David George is the City Councilor who represents South West District.
Well, that’s the entire City Council Meeting agenda for Monday, February 17. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk! If you have any comments or questions, please send them my way. Email is a good way to get a hold of me. If you would like to leave a voicemail, please ring me at 888-518-7117.
A note about the City Council Meeting in March: The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, March 16. Because of spring break and a lack of a quorum, it has been moved to the following week, March 23. Bad news, I am unable to attend the rescheduled meeting because of the trip I have planned with my daughter. I am very disappointed about missing this meeting.