When Tony Bagato left his post as Director of Planning & Zoning for the City of Fishers for a private sector job, it was assumed that his second-in-command, Megan Schaefer, would move into the director’s chair.  That was cleared-up Wednesday morning when the city formally announced Ms. Schaefer as the new head of Planning & Zoning.

One major initiative on the new director’s plate will be the 5-year update on the city’s comprehensive plan, named the 2040 Plan.  That plan looks to what Fishers may be once the population swells as projected to 135,000 residents (current estimates put the population of Fishers at about 95,000).

“My goal is to make sure Fishers continues to thrive as a community,” said Schaefer in a city news release. “There is so much opportunity here, and it’s great to work under leadership that is committed to looking at the facts and making the best decisions for the community. My goal for our department is to modernize processes, reduce inefficiencies, and continue to use data to inform decision making. As Fishers begins to reach buildout, our focus will be to plan for possible scenarios, and be proactive in our planning efforts. My passion has always been focused on public service and I could not be more excited to take on this new leadership role.”

Ms. Schaefer and her department expect to identify gaps and priorities in the City’s trail network and potential funding sources; streamline and update the department’s review processes; educate the public and development community on land use and zoning regulations; and gather local data that will assist policy makers and community officials in making informed decisions regarding the City’s future.

Ms. Schaefer received her bachelor’s degree in Policy Analysis from Indiana University, and is currently enrolled in the Indiana Certified Public Manager Program at Ball State University’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs. She previously worked with the City of Indianapolis’ Department of Business and Neighborhood Services as a Project Development Analyst.