Whiteland adopts revised comprehensive plan; council approves final payments and grant closeout

The Whiteland Town Council on March 11 adopted an updated comprehensive plan developed under a state OPA grant and approved final payments to the consultant so the grant can be closed out.

The adoption follows a second public hearing and OPA's review and approval of the plan, town staff and the grant administrator said. The council also voted to authorize the town to create voucher packets and pay remaining invoices to HWC Engineering so the project can be closed out with the grantor.

Carmen, a town staff member overseeing planning, told the council the plan was assembled with help from HWC and a steering committee and included required chapters under the OPA grant, such as broadband and historic preservation. "We had public session, and maybe he was dealing with under those people, but HWC helped us put this together," Carmen said. Mike Kleinpeter, the grant administrator from Kleinpeter Consulting Group, told the council "OPA has reviewed the plan. As Adam stated, they have approved the plan. Tonight's the second public hearing which will wrap up the plan."

The document runs to roughly 150 pages and, staff said, follows OPA technical requirements: topic chapters include land use, transportation, fiscal capacity and additional chapters OPA requires. Carmen and other staff said the plan also accounts for the town's geographic growth since its 2011 plan and includes recommendations that extend beyond current town limits to guide future annexation and service provision.

During the public hearing resident Carrie Miller asked if the document was public; staff said the plan is available online at planwhite1.com and will be placed on the town website. After brief public comment, a council member moved to approve the plan; the motion passed on a roll call recorded as unanimous.

Council members also approved a request from staff to prepare voucher packets to pay outstanding HWC invoices so the town can complete the OPA grant closeout. Staff reported a remaining invoice of $24,400; $20,000 of that amount will be paid from grant funds (as described by staff) and the remaining $4,400 is the town match and would be paid from town funds. The council authorized staff to sign closeout documents for the grant once the payments and drawdowns are completed.

The council did not make any substantive changes to the draft at the meeting. Speakers said the plan aims to strengthen downtown aesthetic and corridor improvements on U.S. 31, address parks and park-board formation, and add chapters such as broadband and historic preservation required by the grant program.

The plan adoption completes a roughly one-year process that included a steering committee, outreach events and a 60-day followed by a 30-day state review period under the OPA grant.

Votes at a glance: the resolution adopting the updated comprehensive plan and motions to authorize voucher packets and to sign grant closeout paperwork were approved in recorded roll-call votes (unanimous as recorded).