In Indiana most plan commissions devote much of their time to considering petitions which require commission recommendation or decision. This guide offers advice on how to make those recommendations and decisions without losing sight of the commission's broader purpose and how to function effectively within the law. Serving on a plan commission is a difficult job and an important responsibility. Doing the job well involves more than showing up at meetings. It means learning about planning, about your community, listening to citizens, visiting sites involved in cases before the commission, and perhaps serving on subcommittees.

The primary duty of the plan commission is to develop and recommend to the legislative body a plan for the future of the community. This plan should form the basis for the commission's decisions and recommendations (see Chapter 7, Comprehensive Plans). Unfortunately, few plan commissions succeed in making the overall plan their top priority. Constant pressures from property owners and developers command the commission's attention, and most meeting time is spent making recommendations on rezoning requests and decisions on subdivision proposals. Many commissions also find it difficult to adhere to the plan when they are confronted with a hearing room full of people advocating a position inconsistent with the plan.

Some commissions confuse the zoning ordinance with the plan, but the zoning ordinance is distinct from the plan. In Indiana, as in most other states, the law requires the community to adopt a plan before it adopts a zoning ordinance. This provision is sensible; the community should not adopt regulations until its citizens have decided on the goals they want to accomplish with those regulations.

This petition was a preliminary plat to establish two parcels; one at .46 acres and one at .33 acres at 533 and 535 East Hendricks Street, applied for by Terry and Debbie Esters. The petition was heard on 2/28/2022 and Approved by the Plan Commission. This was a follow-up petition to PC 2021-29.

This petition was to amend the Downtown TIF District Ordinance applied for by the Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission. The petition was heard on 3/28/2022 and Approved by the Plan Commission. The petition was to remove the Porter Pool Center and Coca Cola Building from the Downtown TIF District to place the properties in their own TIF District. This was in anticipation of a redevelopment project happening on the site.

This petition was to amend several sections of Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) applied for by the Plan Commission. The petition was heard on 5/23/2022 and Approved by the Plan Commission. The amendments included in the petition included enhancing the existing Landscape Standards and minor change to the Environmental Standards, the Improvement Location Permit and the Appendix.

This petition was for preliminary plat approval of the Twelve Oaks Phase II subdivision located off of McKay Road applied for by Pyatt Builders. The petition was heard on 5/23/2022 and was Approved by the Plan Commission. The total number of lots in the subdivision is 148.

This petition was to rezone a parcel from "PK - Parks and Open Space" to "R2 - Two-family Residential" on South Pike Street applied for by Allen & Allen, LLC. The petition was heard on 5/23/2022 and was Approval by the Plan Commission. The City Council approved the rezone on 6/20/2022.

This petition was for the annexation of a single family residential home at 853 Highland Drive applied for by Dean and Linda Spurlin and was a petition to annex 853 Highland Drive. The petition was heard on 6/27/2022, and a Favorable Recommendation was made by the Plan Commission to forward a zoning classification of R1 - Single Family Residential to the City Council. The City Council approved the annexation on 7/18/2022.

This petition was a request to rezone a parcel from BG- Business General to IL- Light Industrial. at 1706 McCall Drive applied for by Sanjivan Bual. The petition was heard on 6/27/2022 and was Approved by the Plan Commission. The City Council approved the rezone on 7/18/2022.

This petition was for site development plan approval at 405 North Harrison Street applied for by Birge and Held. The petition was on 9/12/2022 and Approved by the Plan Commission. The SDP was for the construction of a 168 apartment unit complex and the remodeling and restoration of the historic Coca-Cola Bottling facility.

This petition was for the annexation of a 40+ acres of farmland along East State Road 44 applied for by Genesis Property Development. The petition was heard on 10/24/2022, and a Favorable Recommendation was made by the Plan Commission to the City Council. The City Council approved the annexation on 12/05/2022. This was a follow-up petition to PC 2022-14.

This petition was for the annexation of a single family residential home at 2701 South Miller Street applied for by CG Theobold LP. The petition was heard on 9/28/2022, and a Favorable Recommendation was made by the Plan Commission to forward a zoning classification of R1 - Single Family Residential to the City Council. The City Council approved the annexation on 11/21/2022.