Plan commission schedules special hearing on solar ordinance amendments, sets strict sign-up and conduct rules

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. in the Justice Center Auditorium to consider amendments to the county’s solar ordinance and laid out detailed procedures for public participation.

Planning staff said the amended ordinance replaces the prior solar ordinance that had been placed on moratorium. The special meeting will use alternate hearing rules: attendees must sign up in person before the meeting begins and may not sign up on behalf of others; staff will divide available time between supporters and opponents once sign-ups are complete.

Staff explained time limits: no individual may speak for less than one minute or more than three minutes under ordinary sign-up; each side (support and oppose) will be allocated a total of 60 minutes for non-attorney speakers and a five-minute rebuttal period for each side. Attorneys are handled differently: an attorney may speak up to 30 minutes, and time used by an attorney for a represented group does not count against the non-attorney side’s 60 minutes. Attorneys also must submit a list of the people they represent so the commission can allocate the corresponding speaker time.

The commission and staff also announced facility and safety arrangements. The upper (balcony) seating at the Justice Center Auditorium is closed for safety after a recent fire inspection; staff will post signage and ask anyone seated there to move. The south/front parking lot may be closed for milling and paving work, but the north lot and the back lot (gate opened for the event) and nearby mental-health facility parking will be available. The commission has requested sheriff’s deputies on site to enforce rules and remove disruptive attendees if necessary.

Planning staff reiterated that the public will be asked to speak “for the ordinance” or “against the ordinance” (the amended ordinance as presented) to help the commission and commissioners consider specific changes. Staff noted that some speakers may have mixed views and that the chair will retain discretion to handle questions or to call back specific speakers for follow-up without that counting against their allotted time.

During the director’s report, staff also provided program updates: the pond ordinance steering committee completed a second meeting and staff have prepared a draft for legal review; the county’s ADA transition plan update is nearly complete with a consulting firm’s draft and public input meetings held; and monthly building permit and inspection statistics were supplied to commissioners.

The commission encouraged attendees to arrive early, sign up in person and follow the posted rules. The board said it expects full membership to attend; it also reminded the public that any ordinance adopted by the commissioners would still require special-use and permitting processes for individual solar projects.