In February, the Fishers City Council passed, on first reading, a measure that would allow new Homeowners Associations (HOAs) a lower threshold in order to change their governing documents.  This proposal would only impact newly-formed HOAs, not ones already in place.  The ordinance was proposed by City Council Member Brad DeReamer.

The next step in the process is to have a public hearing at the Fishers Plan Commission, then the Commission would vote on a recommendation to the City Council.  That didn’t happen at the March Plan Commission session.

DeReamer spoke at the March Plan Commission public hearing in favor of allowing HOAs to change their covenants with the consent of a majority of homeowners, over 50%,  Most HOAs in Fishers require a 75% vote to approve such changes , with a few around 67%.  In addition, DeReamer pushed for a lower quorum to conduct business at an HOA meeting.  Most HOAs require 50% attendance to conduct business – DeReamer wants to lower that to 20-25%.

However, there was pushback from the private sector on DeReamer’s proposal.  A representative for the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) argued that the 75% vote threshold for HOAs is there for a reason and provides an amount of certainty for financial institutions supporting developments and the housing developers themselves.  There were others, some former city planners now in the private sector working for developers, that said lowering the HOA voting threshold from 75% to over 50% would likely result in unintended consequences that most people would not like.

As a result, the Plan Commission unanimously voted to delay any vote on the proposal until city staff can organize meetings with the various stakeholders to provide input and ideas on the issue.

So, will there be a new ordinance on HOA governance for future housing developments in Fishers?  Time will tell.

We are slowly moving into the spring season, even if the weather does not appear that way every day.  With that, be prepared for a number of lane restrictions around Fishers during the work week starting March 6.

Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Developer Thompson Thrift announced Thursday it has acquired 62 acres of land for the new Fishers Events Center, part of the expanded Fishers District, to be located east of I-69 between 106^th and 116^th Streets.  The City of Fishers recently approved financing for the center.

The expansion of Fishers District is a $550 million project, a public-private partnership with the city of Fishers and Thompson Thrift.

“The master plan for Fisher’s District reflects the ingenuity of Thompson Thrift’s three business units to work proactively with the city of Fishers to create a true ‘live, work, play’ environment that will be a generational asset for the Fishers community,” said Ashlee Boyd, managing partner, Thompson Thrift Commercial, in a company news release. “A project of this magnitude requires patience, persistence and vision and we have brought development, design, and building experts together, as well as local leaders, to craft Fishers District into a premiere destination that integrates urban vitality with neighborhood connectivity.”

Thompson Thrift concurrently sold a portion of the newly acquired land to the city that will be used for the development of the 7,500-seat arena and event center. The city of Fishers has added AECOM Hunt to the project as general contractor for the site and event center construction which is scheduled to break ground in late March.

A proposed ordinance on local Homeowners Associations (HOA) governance rules has been continued by the Fishers Plan Commission, allowing time for the city staff to meet with industry, HOA representatives and the public on proposals to change the rules on neighborhood covenant changes.

The City Council approved on first reading a proposal to lower the voting threshold for changing HOA covenants from 75% of property owners to a majority, more than 50%.  The public hearing had six speakers, many from the private sector with concerns about the consequences of such an ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would only impact new developments and their HOAs.  Fishers City Councilor Todd Zimmerman, also a Plan Commission member, reminded everyone that only 6% of the land in Fishers is yet to be developed.

One speaker, representing the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), suggested a continuance to find common ground.  She expressed several concerns, including adding risk for banks financing residential developments and for the builders themselves.  According to BAGI, most HOAs have the rule of 75% of property owners approval for covenant changes for a reason.

Fishers City Councilor Brad DeReamer, who proposed the ordinance change, says the neighborhoods in his Northeast District are all facing problems with the 75% rule.  He also wants the rule for how many property owners must attend a meeting of the HOA to take action (a quorum) be reduced to 20%-25%, rather than the common rule of 50%.  He reminded Plan Commission members that the City Council is elected to represent the people of Fishers, not the developers.

One other member of the public, a local HOA officer, agreed with DeReamer.  But other speakers, some former city planners now working for developers, warned of unintended consequences of lowering the 75% threshold to 50%.

The Commission voted unanimously to continue the issue until the stakeholder meetings take place and staff reports back on what is learned from those sessions.

If the Plan Commission would come up with an ordinance language recommendation for the City Council, it would then be up to the full Council to decide whether a new ordinance on changing HOA covenants for new developments in Fishers would be enacted.

“There is no such thing as an autistic kid.  There is no such thing as a blind guy.  People are people first.  I wish we could all wear a T-shirt that says ‘human’.”

Those were remarks from the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s kickoff for Disability Awareness Month in Fishers, Kelly Hartman.  Ms. Hartman and Fishers City Councilor Cecilia Coble co-chair the city’s Advisory Committee on Disabilities.

Hartman reminded those gathered at the Launch Fishers Huston Theatre that the disabled are the largest minority group in America.  She provided a history lesson in how many states, including Indiana, for a long time segregated the disabled in institutions, often under horrible living conditions.  Only in recent decades, according to Hartman, is that beginning to change.

Much of the change happened in the 1970s, a time when Fishers was a community of just a few hundred people.  As a result, services are not plentiful for the disabled here.

Mayor Scott Fadness reminded those in the audience that Fishers has recently codified the existence of the Advisory Committee on Disability, so the work will continue as elected officials change in the future.  The mayor also complimented Councilor Coble.

“Cecilia, just walk away today knowing that what your work is, and what it does, truly, truly matters,” said Fadness.

Three important awards were handed out Wednesday.

Zach Curtis, an employee of First Internet Bank, received the Life Without Limits prize.

Jason Boyer and the Hampton Inn earned the Cornerstone Employer Award.

The Tsimerakis Family received the Accessibility Award.

The slogan for this year’s Disability Awareness Month celebration in Fishers is “Life Without Limits – Building Our Future Together.”

For more on Disability Awareness Month in Fishers, use this link.

On January 24th of this year, the City of Noblesville and Bastian Solutions announced a $130 million corporate campus in Noblesville with a huge manufacturing plant, planned east of Promise Road, between 146th and 141st Streets.  This project will encompass 162 acres.

Even though this will be a Noblesville economic development project, it borders Fishers.  In that area. 141st Street is the border between Fishers and Noblesville.

Fishers City Councilor Crystal Neumann began hearing from residents, particularly in the Sedona Woods neighborhood, located east of Promise Road and south of 141st Street.  That neighborhood borders Noblesville, but is entirely within the city limits of Fishers.  It is also part of Neumann’s North Central Council District.

Neumann tells LarryInFishers she met this week with Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen and described it as a “great conversation.”  Noblesville is wanting feedback from Fishers residents in the area of the Bastian development.  Jensen suggests any residents with questions or concerns attend a meeting of the Noblesville Plan Commission March 20, 6:00pm, at Noblesville City Hall.  Residents may comment during the public hearing.

One concern raised by Fishers residents in the area of Promise Road and 141st Street is the use of an industrial entrance on 141st Street.  Neumann, in an e-mail to LarryInFishers, says “the main traffic will be directed to 146th, with 141st being an alternative entrance.”  She wants more clarity as to what this would look like once the facility is up and running.

The City Councilor also raised the issue with Mayor Jensen about the zoning related to the Bastian property.  Neumann says “the constant messaging of ‘industrial zoning’… gave folks the impression this would be a manufacturing facility with all kinds of smoke or gas, rather than a corporate location.”  Jensen promised to clarify that issue.

One improvement coming to traffic flow in the area is construction of a roundabout at 141st Street & Promise Road.  The roundabout is expected to be constructed in 2024.  That intersection is currently a four-way stop.

According to Councilor Neumann, the City of Noblesville and Bastian are open to feedback on this project.  “Those impacted in Fishers just need to be included and have our voices heard,” Neumann said.