My radio journalism career began in the early 1970s, so I have covered a large range of meetings and events during that time.  A very common issue is any kind of affordable housing proposal.

I have seen many a resident objecting to such a plan look out over the governmental body conducting the public hearing and pointedly ask this question – “How would you feel if such a project was proposed in your own neighborhood?”

Well, I have such a proposal directly connected to the community in which I live.  The purpose of this commentary is to explain how I feel about it and why I feel that way.

For those not familiar with the vagaries of local government, the nonprofit organization HAND, which works to provide housing for those unable to find housing affordable for them within their own communities, is proposing a housing project in a currently undeveloped area near 141st Street and Cumberland Road.  The proposal includes 11 single family two-story cottage-style homes with car ports.

There will be guidelines tied to income and some other factors on who qualifies to rent these units but to be approved, but residents must have income.

The first step is to appear before the Fishers City Council for first reading, where it only takes one vote to send the proposal to the Fishers Plan Commission.  This plan will require a rezoning of the area.  With one vote, the project moved forward.

The plan commission is an advisory body.  It holds a public hearing, takes an advisory vote, then sends the project back to the City Council for approval or denial.

That public hearing was held February 3rd.  The advice from the Plan Commission was unfavorable by a vote of 8-1.  There were a number of reasons given for that unfavorable vote.  Let’s explore each one.

Some say the location is not good due to the density of the plans.  I live in the adjacent neighborhood and our density is far greater than the Cumberland Cottages proposal.

Some argued HAND should find another location.  There are not many locations available in Fishers and HAND has told me there are no location alternatives at this time.

Another reason dealt with traffic concerns.  When the weather is warmer, I take a walk nearly every day in that area and cannot see any traffic problems of any significance that would be created by this HAND development.

The only Plan Commission member to vote against the unfavorable recommendation, Howard Stevenson, asked city staff what the city engineering department (the city traffic experts) had to say about this housing development.  The engineers did raise some concerns (you could raise concerns about any development in Fishers these days) but in the end the engineering department did not object to this project.

Some point to two apartment projects in the works aimed at those needing affordable housing.  This is true, but all the data I have seen in the many meetings I have attended the past few years show Fishers is still in much need of affordable housing.  All these projects will help, but the need is so great we still have a long way to go.

HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis told the Plan Commission members that her organization has provided more than $38,000 in housing assistance to 59 residents, including 22 households, just since August of 2020.  Davis also noted that over 3,200 students in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District qualify for the free or reduced price lunch program.

One argument put forward at the plan commission meeting was that home ownership should be promoted, not rentals.  The families that would populate Cumberland Cottages would not be able to qualify for a home loan based on the information from HAND, but this program could put these families in a financial position to become homeowners in the future.

Another Plan Commission member was straightforward in his reason for voting the unfavorable recommendation – he had received about 50 letters in opposition and that was enough for him.

So, as someone living in the immediate area of this Cumberland Cottage, what are my views?

Let me say right now that what I am about to express is likely not the view of most of my neighbors or my Homeowners Association (HOA).  I am speaking for myself and myself only.

I find no good reason to oppose this project.  HAND has an outstanding track record of building good, quality properties, managing them well and doing the proper maintenance.  The projects HAND has completed have stood the test of time and are a credit to the neighborhoods in which they exist.

After reviewing all the arguments, I cannot in good conscience favor denying 11 families a chance at living in a high-quality rental community.  The range in rental costs for Cumberland Cottages will be $650-$1,150 per month, according to HAND.

There is one other aspect of this that I would hope all city council members would take into consideration.  Denying a rezone for an affordable housing project, for what I can only conclude are no legitimate reasons, is not a good look for our city.  Yes, we have other affordable housing plans in the works, but denying this one without a good, stated reason is not a decision that will message well outside the City of Fishers.

So, the Cumberland Crossing housing proposal is adjacent to my neighborhood.  I would hope the city council goes against the advice of the Fishers Plan Commission and approves the HAND development.  I believe that is the right thing to do.