Plan department proposes area commission

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November 10, 2009

New entity would deal with planning issues throughout county

By Jennifer Tangeman Pharos-Tribune Tue Nov 10, 2009, 11:36 PM EST

The Logansport-Cass County Planning Department is trying to create an area plan commission to oversee development throughout the county.

An area plan commission would replace individual commissions in communities with one regional board to advise planning decisions. Area plan commissions are cooperative efforts between a county and at least one municipality within the county.

“The benefits certainly are that it would be easier to coordinate an area plan commission instead of having eight meetings per month for each board of zoning appeals, plan commission and town or county council,” planning director Stan Williams said.

Williams said the creation of an area plan commission was a goal outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan.

An area commission would provide unified plans and ordinances for the region, including a single comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance and subdivision control ordinance.

“Planning would be much more coordinated with towns, the city and the county with one single comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance,” Williams said.

Williams said that because each jurisdiction now has its own commission and board of zoning appeals, decisions are typically based on what would best serve that particular jurisdiction.

“They think only of what is good for their community, which they certainly should,” the planning director said. “But an area plan commission can see the widespread impact that development would have on the entire county.”

The comprehensive plan calls for Royal Center, Onward, Walton and Galveston to join in an area planning group with Logansport and Cass County.

Williams said if an area planning commission were formed by Cass County, Logansport would have three votes on an eight- or nine-member board. He said county representation would include a commissioner, county councilman, superintendent of a school system, Extension agent or county surveyor and two citizens, one appointed by the county council and one named by the commissioners.

The idea has been introduced to members of the city and county plan commissions, and Williams said the planning department intended to talk with members of plan commissions and boards of zoning appeals from the other municipalities.

“We haven’t really received any feedback yet,” Williams said.

Williams said all the communities that participate would be served by one plan commission and BZA, but that any municipality could opt to remain separate with recommendations from the area plan commission being forwarded to the separate entities. Williams said he hoped to establish the new area board by early next year.

• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.

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