Planning Commission endorses updated planning fee schedule, sends recommendation to city council

The Shelbyville Planning Commission voted to recommend that city council adopt an updated planning and community development fee schedule designed to comply with Public Chapter 140 and to better align fees with staff time and administration.

Planning staff explained the update adds previously missing application categories (driveway and land‑disturbance permits), clarifies administrative approvals, and attempts to justify fees by accounting for staff review hours rather than comparing to larger jurisdictions. Staff said the revised schedule should cover more of planning department operations without unduly discouraging development.

The commission’s favorable recommendation included a condition that city finance (K. Parker) review the fee justifications before council action and that numeric ranges be clarified to avoid gaps (use clear "greater than/less than" language for thresholds). Commissioner Bolan specifically reviewed the draft’s range formatting and recommended editorial corrections prior to transmittal.

Outcome: The commission forwarded the fee schedule to city council with a favorable recommendation and the requested finance review. City staff said they will provide sample project fee comparisons at the council hearing.