Indy ReZone Plan Goes To The Public

Indianapolis is doing a comprehensive update of its zoning code for the first time in 50 years.

Residents can see a draft of the changes and give input on the process, Tuesday.

The last time the plan underwent a comprehensive rewrite Tamara Tracy says the city’s outlook and goals were different.

"Back when this was originally crafted, we were very auto centric," said Tracy.  "We love the car.  Think about it, it was 1969, 1970 everybody had a fast car and loved it.  That's the way the standards were written.  Well, that's changing."

She says community surveys show residents now want to live in places that are more walkable and accessible with better transit.

And Tracy thinks the revamped code addresses some of those desires.

"All the standards are entwined and so what we've done is we pulled them apart and tried to enhance the ones that get us to a place where we are creating places that people want," said Tracy.  "We are requiring trees.  We are requiring reduced setbacks so that people enjoy the places that their walking, shopping and working."

She says the public feedback will be used to put together final recommendations which could go in front of the city county council as soon as the end of the summer.

If approved, the new code could be in place by the start of the new year.

Tuesday's meetings are from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Athenaeum, 407 E Michigan St.