Planning staff releases RFP for comprehensive zoning rewrite; solar ordinance tabled, budget and Ball State studio noted

Planning staff told the Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission at its October meeting that the office has released a request for proposals to undertake a complete revision of the Delaware County and City of Muncie comprehensive zoning ordinances and the subdivision ordinances, a process officials estimate will take about 12–18 months.

The rewrite matters because it would replace the existing county and city ordinance “book” that defines allowed uses, development standards and subdivision rules; planning staff said the process will include input from elected officials, partner agencies, committees and the public. Staff said the RFP covers both the county and city ordinances and associated subdivision codes and that additional information will be provided to commission members by email.

In other administrative updates, planning staff reported building-permit and inspection totals through September: 670 permit applications filed and $128,371.09 in fees collected, and 1,212 inspections completed. Planning staff said combined with cases heard by the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and related committees, the office has processed 88 total cases so far this year. On the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) side, staff said it completed and posted the annual completion report and the annual listing of obligated projects to the office website; these documents summarize planning expenditures and projects funded with state and federal highway dollars.

Staff also reminded the commission that the county solar ordinance remains tabled after the Sept. 15 commissioners’ meeting and that the matter is set for the next commissioners’ meeting on Oct. 7. The county budget was approved, staff said, and the planning office received funding that allowed 2% raises for employees. Staff noted Ball State University is opening a College of Architecture and Planning student studio downtown at 306 South Walnut Street in the historic Columbia Theater building; staff described the space as roughly 5,000 square feet and said it will host studio classes, interactive activities and public displays. Planning staff also mentioned Arts Walk running downtown from 5 to 8 p.m. the night of the meeting.

Staff said the ordinance-rewrite process will include extensive stakeholder engagement and that additional schedule and scope details will follow via email.