Schaefer previously served as department’s Assistant Director, City planner
The City of Fishers has announced Megan Schaefer as the new Director of Planning & Zoning. Formerly the department’s Assistant Director, Schaefer will now lead the city’s five-year update to the Fishers 2040 Plan, the comprehensive plan that outlines the roadmap to reaching the city’s projected population of 135,000 residents by 2040.
Schaefer
Schaefer will also lead the department’s efforts on new parks and trails projects, including the Nickel Plate Trail, Geist Greenway, and Geist Waterfront Park.
In her new role, Schaefer will identify gaps and priorities in the city’s trail network and potential funding sources; streamline and update the department’s review processes; educate the public and development community on land use and zoning regulations; and gather local data that will assist policy makers and community officials in making informed decisions regarding the city’s future.
“My goal is to make sure Fishers continues to thrive as a community,” Schaefer said. “There is so much opportunity here, and it’s great to work under leadership that is committed to looking at the facts and making the best decisions for the community. My goal for our department is to modernize processes, reduce inefficiencies, and continue to use data to inform decision making. As Fishers begins to reach buildout, our focus will be to plan for possible scenarios, and be proactive in our planning efforts. My passion has always been focused on public service and I could not be more excited to take on this new leadership role.”
Schaefer joined the City of Fishers as a City Planner in 2017, and since then has been integral in the many of the City’s community engagement and planning projects, including:
- Drafting the Age-Friendly Fishers Action Plan in collaboration with the Age Friendly Fishers Committee
- Streamlining the city’s Matching Grant programs, with an additional $20,000 allocated to neighborhood beautification projects in 2020
- Overseeing the Nickel Plate Trail Adjacent Resident Screening & Privacy Grant Program, which offers up to $2,000 for screening, privacy, or buffering for private properties adjacent to the trail
- Reviewing new development projects within the Nickel Plate District, including the construction of Nickel Plate Station
- Working with Fishers’ Business Solutions Group on implementing and streamlining a new permitting platform, OpenGov
Schaefer received her bachelor’s degree in Policy Analysis from Indiana University, and is currently enrolled in the Indiana Certified Public Manager Program at Ball State University’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs. She previously worked with the City of Indianapolis’ Department of Business and Neighborhood Services as a Project Development Analyst.
Learn more about the City of Fishers’ Department of Planning & Zoning here.