Fishers is poised to begin a housing study, an outgrowth the of city’s revised comprehensive plan.  The Board of Works and Public Safety has approved Urban Planners, a firm headquartered in Philadelphia, to conduct the housing study.

Mayor Scott Fadness questioned Planning & Zoning Director Megan Schaefer about the length of the contract, which calls for the study to take 8 months to complete.

“To really complete the comprehensive housing study, for what we are requesting, and to help with the fiscal analysis of build-out for our city, that is a reasonable time (compared) to the other proposals we received,” said Schaefer.  “I wish it was a shorter timeline, I was hoping to get it done by the end of the year, but for the quality of the report, 8 months is what (Urban Planners) is proposing.”

Board member Jeff Lantz described the cost of the study as “very reasonable,” considering the depth of the project.  The contract calls for the city to pay no more than $50,000 for the study.

The study will include, at a minimum, the following:

–The City’s housing stock (past, present, & future)

–Fishers’ housing market comparison to comparable communities and national
averages

–An analysis of the remaining undeveloped land and potential buildout

–Factors impacting housing attainment & preservation.

–Housing density and its impacts on the community such as school enrollment,
emergency services, infrastructure, and property tax revenues.