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Dear Editor:
As a member of the Noblesville Common Council and the city’s Plan Commission, I want to be fully transparent regarding all processes and actions on this committee. This committee determines a considerable amount of the new buildings that come into the city, and it has a huge effect on our community.
What is the Noblesville Plan Commission and how is it different from the Common Council?
The Noblesville Plan Commission meets on the third Monday of every month at City Hall. This commission helps to shape the city’s growth, and helps the Common Council develop and update City Ordinances, the Comprehensive Plan, the Thoroughfare Plan, and other long-term plans for the city. The Plan Commission consists of 11 voting members and conducts public hearings for land use zoning and land subdivision activities. Click here to learn more about the Plan Commission.
While the Plan Commission helps to advise the Council on the growth and development of the city, all approved spending or city ordinances must first go through the city’s Common Council.
The Common Council is the legislative branch of our city government. The Council’s primary functions are to pass the laws (ordinances) of the city and to approve the city budget. The Common Council consists of nine members. Of these nine members, three are elected across the city (at large) and six are elected according to certain areas of the city (districts). Common Council meetings are open to the public. To learn more about the Common Council or to see a schedule of meetings, please click here.
Starting a new major project in Noblesville
When a private business chooses to locate, grow, or develop in Noblesville, they must seek approval to build a new building within the city.
Any private company or land owner has the right to meet with the city’s staff about a proposed property improvement. While the private company gets advice and discusses the project idea, the project is not considered “public.” The private company may choose to discuss various ideas with the city in order to match compliance with a variety of standards, ordinances, rules.
When, and if, the private company meets criteria to move forward, it is packaged for transparent and full disclosure in a public presentation.
Pursuing project approval
When the project is ultimately presented to city staff, it does not always get immediate approval. The city staff first makes a recommendation for approval, denial, or no recommendation after the presentation. If a project is denied by city staff, it just means the project has room for improvement before it is presented publicly.
Next, the private business has the choice to either present the project publicly or improve the project first and re-present the project to city staff.
Taking a project public
When a project goes public, the project is typically presented to the Plan Commission first. Before the public presentation, the information is posted on the city’s website three to five days before the meeting. During the meeting, the Plan Commission then votes on the project as “favorable”, “unfavorable” or “no recommendation.” Regardless of a “favorable” or “unfavorable” vote, it is up to the private business to then decide if the project should advance to the next step or be revisited for improvements again.
Getting approval from the Common Council
Only after all of these steps does a private business then have the option of presenting their proposal to the Common Council. The Common Council has the authority to approve or disapprove of projects. If a project receives approval from the Common Council, the private business can then begin collecting land permits, utilities permits, etc. so they can start building the new project.
It is very exciting to see so much positive and professional community engagement because this is how a community shapes itself. I encourage everyone to check the city’s website frequently for updates, projects and agendas to stay accurately informed. If you are interested in learning more, my email address is dpeterson@noblesville.in.us.
Darren Peterson
Noblesville