Indy Preparing New Zoning Code

Indianapolis is totally revamping its zoning code for the first time in more than four decades.

A lot has changed in Indianapolis since 1969, but not the city’s zoning code.

Division of Planning Senior Planner John Neal says not doing so has affected development patterns.

"When these ordinances were originally passed, we had large areas of undeveloped land and we were in an era of low energy costs and an autocentric era," said Neal.  "Now what we are trying to do is acommodate our new situation, a more fully developed community, as well as a community that is facing these new limitations."

He says those limitations include energy constraints and finding alternatives to an auto-centric type of development.

Right now, there are 14 different ordinances that govern zoning. The proposed changes would create a single ordinance with four chapters.

"What we've put together is a package of changes in our zoning ordinances that will better prepared Indianapolis for development in the 21st century," said Neal.

The goal is to release the plan to the public in June and have a completed draft go in front of the Metropolitan Development Commission for a vote sometime later this summer.