Sellersburg plan commission recommends $12,500 Valbridge housing study to Town Council

The Town of Sellersburg Plan Commission voted June 15 to forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council to contract with Valbridge Property Advisors for a targeted housing-market study.

Charlie, speaking for staff, presented the Valbridge scope as a regional and neighborhood economic and demographic analysis that would assess single‑family and multifamily supply, rent levels and occupancy, demand estimates for new supply, and market timing across four town-identified zones. "This is basically going through on page two and three provide regional neighborhood economic demographic analysis... and it is estimated to be completed no later than August 4," Charlie said. The firm quoted a fee of $12,500.

The study was described as a prerequisite for a planned update to the town's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which had been adopted in part to manage growth in mixed‑use districts and to enforce standards such as buffering, setbacks and architectural controls. Charlie told commissioners the moratorium on multifamily in the town's mixed‑use districts was put in place while the town updated the zoning code and that recent state legislation (referred to in the meeting as "House Bill 1") adds study and notice requirements the town will need to address.

Commissioners discussed a prior regional housing study by Dr. Melissa Fry (IUS) funded through the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana but noted it was regional and not sufficiently current or specific for Sellersburg's needs. Staff said the Valbridge engagement would provide the local data the town needs to inform the UDO update and opt‑out decisions the commission and council may face under new state rules.

A motion to recommend the Valbridge engagement to the Town Council was made, seconded and carried on a voice vote; the chair closed the vote with an oral tally the commission recorded as six in favor. The recommendation will be presented to the Town Council at its next meeting for final action.

Funding for the Valbridge study was discussed in the meeting transcript as "to be paid out of Senate," per staff wording; the commission did not provide further budget-code detail at the meeting.

The plan commission’s recommendation does not by itself authorize contract execution; final approval and funding authorization are the Town Council's responsibilities.