The Fishers Plan Commission is not normally one of the most exciting beats in journalism. A large number of the items on the monthly agenda are routine.

For example, there is one item on the May 10th meeting list about subdividing one lot into two lots.  Another seeks to allow an auto repair shop in the Lantern Pines area.

But there are times very important items are considered by this body.  There are two such items on the May 10th commission agenda.

Before getting into that, let me explain one more aspect of the Fishers Plan Commission.  It is largely an advisory body.  There are a few limited areas where the commission does make decisions, but the bulk of its work is advisory to the Fishers City Council, which has the final say.

First, the commission will hold a public hearing on the Fishers 2040 Plan, also referred to as the comprehensive plan.  Fishers never had a comprehensive plan on how it should develop in the future, and how to keep up older areas of the city, during its years as a town. The proposed 2040 plan is also about parks and transportation.  The document itself has taken months to develop.  You can access the entire 216-page report at this link.

The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the Fishers 2040 proposed plan.  The commission members will then vote a recommendation and send it back to the city council for final consideration and action.

Another item on the May 10th agenda will consider a new ordinance proposed by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness placing more controls on development of land in Fishers in the area of the current 116th Street I-69 interchange, and the new one under construction at 106th Street and the interstate highway.

When the announcement was made last year that IKEA will locate one of its stores near the 116th Street interchange in Fishers, I asked the mayor how he envisions economic growth in the area near the new IKEA facility.  I asked the question because once IKEA has located a store in other parts of America, the land in that area has quickly developed.  The mayor told me at that time about his concern that any development be carefully considered so people living in that part of Fishers can be involved in those decisions.

It appears Fishers officials are wanting to keep careful control in these specific areas of the city beyond the basic zoning laws.  There will be a public hearing May 10th at the Plan Commission about this proposal.  You can read the Fishers Planning Staff report on the 116th Street proposal at this link.   For the staff report on 106th Street, use this link.

If you have public comments you wish to make on the Fishers 2040 plan and/or the mayor’s proposal to take more planning control of land around the Interstate 69 interchanges, this is your chance to make your feelings known.

The May 10th Fishers Plan Commission meeting starts at 6:30pm at the City Hall.