Homeplace sub-area plan advances after public event; online feedback open through May 18

Adrianne Keeling, a planner with the Department of Community Services, told the Homeplace Advisory Board that the “This Is Homeplace” visioning process culminated in a community event and sculpture dedication on May 3 and that public input gathered there and online will be used to prepare a condensed sub-area plan for adoption into the Carmel comprehensive plan.

Keeling said the event “was the culmination of a year-long visioning process” and that consultant Yarden Company recorded the sculpture dedication and is producing an overall video documenting the process. She told board members the full draft plan is lengthy and staff will “distill some of that information down into a comprehensive plan amendment that can be adopted into the sub area plan portion of the comprehensive plan.”

The outreach included physical display boards and an online comment-and-vote feature at www.thisishomeplace.com; Keeling said the online “build the plan” voting tab remained open through Sunday, May 18, and staff would analyze results and adjust the draft before presenting a condensed package to the Plan Commission, targeted for the July 15 meeting. Keeling also said a volunteer group, HundredAndSixthAndCollege (hundredsixthandcollege.com), has formed as a business-district organization with volunteer and donation sign-ups.

Board members and neighborhood representatives praised the May 3 block-party format and the business passport program that encouraged participation. Kathy Bolander of the Homeplace Neighborhood Association asked how long the websites would remain active; Keeling said the community site would remain at least through the approval process and the business-district site would be maintained by the volunteer organization.

Diana Glass and other residents asked about lighting for the roundabout sculpture; Keeling and other staff said both internal and exterior lighting work was underway and that crews had been installing conduit and electrical components in the days before the meeting. Board members also noted broad community attendance and partnerships for the event.

Board chair Greg Lentz invited questions before moving to other agenda items.