Marion County Land Use Plan: An Opportunity for Public Engagement
The Department of Metropolitan Development has launched the public engagement phase of the update to the Marion County Land Use Plan Map. The Land Use Plan sets policy for the future growth and development of Indy’s neighborhoods, and is consulted whenever a property owner requests a change to their current zoning.
The Land Use Plan Map is one of two components of the Land Use Plan. The other is the Pattern Book, which was adopted by the Metropolitan Development Commission in November of 2017. The Pattern Book outlines the new land use classification system. The Land Use Map will apply that system to specific areas of the county. A PDF of the Pattern Book can be found here.
The Land Use Plan is what many residents refer to as the ‘Comprehensive Plan’. (In reality, the Comprehensive Plan is actually a system of plans ranging from land use to transportation to resiliency.) Many residents are heavily invested in both this process and the legacy of past plans.
There are three key ways that the public can participate and provide input on this plan:
- Online Mapping Portal – Using the same platform as the online engagement for Indy Moves, users will be able to view current and archived drafts of the map and provide comment. The Online Mapping Portal will be accessible at plan2020.com/lu.
- Remote Offices – City planning staff will hold remote office hours throughout the county in April and May. Residents can walk-in without an appointment and speak to a planner one-on-one about the plan.
- Public Meetings – There will be 13 public meetings throughout the county. Meetings will be held in April and May.
The dates and locations for both public meetings and remote offices can be found here.
Following the public engagement phase, the Department of Metropolitan Development will convene the Stakeholder Committee by township in June and July. The Stakeholder Committee consists of the appointed members of the Citizen Advisory Committees as well as graduates of the People’s Planning Academy (a public education program that took place last Fall and is still available online). Together, they will review the draft maps, including any changes that were made in response to public input. The Citizen Advisory Committees will then have the additional responsibility of providing an advisory report to the Metropolitan Development Commission prior to adoption.
For all the information you need and would like to share, check out this Land Use Plan Flyer.
