It appears Fishers is about to have a spirited debate over a proposed city ordinance limiting the amount of rental housing available in each Fishers neighborhood at 10% per subdivision.  The city has a Webinar set for noon Monday.  A group of citizens, led by former Fishers City Councilor Jocelyn Vare, plan an in-person event Monday, 6pm, at the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers, at the Center Meeting room.

The city’s Webinar requires registration, which can be done at this link.

The ordinance being proposed has cleared first reading, where only one council vote is required.  It appears the City Council will bring this matter up for a second and possibly third reading at the April 21st Council session.

Mayor Scott Fadness and his Chief of Staff, Jordin Alexander, laid out their case for the ordinance in a podcast discussion with me that can be heard at this link.  The mayor argues this ordinance will open up more housing for family ownership in Fishers, and, based on his feedback, is generally supported by the public and Fishers Homeowners Associations (HOAs).  City officials plan to meet with the local HOA Alliance Wednesday.

Since this ordinance began to generate publicity in Indy-area media, plenty of other opinions have surfaced.  James Briggs, Opinion Editor and columnist for the Indianapolis Star, recently posted a commentary critical of the ordinance, saying it will prevent families  access to housing in Fishers, because of their inability to obtain mortgages due to tight lending policies.  Briggs also argues this is an example of suburban NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) thinking.

MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors) issued a statement Friday opposing the ordinance.

“The City of Fishers proposed mandatory rental unit registry and 10% rental cap per neighborhood imposes undue restrictions on property owners, limiting their ability to manage and utilize their investments freely,” says MIBOR.  “Such measures interfere with the free market, restrict housing options, and infringe upon fundamental private property rights.”

The position taken by MIBOR is important because this organization is very active in public policy decisions made in Indianapolis and surrounding counties.  MIBOR is also a major campaign contributor in local election campaigns.

The city’s Webinar at noon Monday will feature Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander and Director of the city’s Planning and Zoning Department Ross Hilleary.  Upon registration, questions can be submitted by the public.

Jocelyn Vare’s in-person event at 6pm Monday will present another perspective on the proposed ordinance.  Based on a fact sheet she released, data does not support the objectives the city is seeking with the ordinance.

The rental cap component of this ordinance is new to Indiana.  Attorneys advising the city say the ordinance does pass legal muster.  And, of course, we have seen local communities enact measures aimed at housing, only to have the Indiana General Assembly pass legislation reversing the local law.

There is much at play here.  Mayor Fadness and his staff are convinced this ordinance is good for Fishers and has wide public support.  Opponents feel differently.

This is one of those public policy questions that should create a healthy local debate.  Let’s see what happens between now and April 21st.