Plan commission favors UDO updates to development‑plan and ADLS rules, sends recommendation to council

The Carmel Plan Commission on June 17 gave a favorable recommendation to a city‑council‑initiated amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that reorganizes and clarifies requirements for development plans and ADLS approvals and requires development plan review in B‑1 and B‑2 districts.

Office of Corporation Counsel attorney Sergei Grishkin summarized the purpose of the ordinance, describing it as the first installment of a larger UDO review: "This ordinance amends UDO articles 2.2, 2.21, and 9 0 3 relating to development plan architectural, design, exterior lighting, landscaping, and signage requirements, application consideration, and approval processes." Grishkin said the draft moves some items between development plan and ADLS so each procedure is consistent, adds submission and technical‑review rules (including a 30‑day staff review clock once an application is complete), and incorporates criteria plan commissioners already consider — for example vehicle and pedestrian circulation, stormwater and erosion control, and signage references maintained by Urban Forestry.

Staff and commissioners said the changes primarily clarify and modernize existing practice: bringing B‑1 and B‑2 districts under development plan review because many such parcels are redevelopment sites; adding explicit requirements for traffic/transportation plans and best management practices for stormwater; and codifying ADLS criteria such as materials, massing, lighting, landscaping and signage. The department recommended committee consideration but commissioners moved to suspend rules and act; plan commission then voted to send the amendment to city council with a favorable recommendation.

The Plan Commission record shows the amendment now advances to city council for final action; staff noted the item is the first of several UDO revisions that council and staff plan to bring forward.