Monroe County planning staff on May 1 recommended approval of an outline-plan amendment to the North Park Planned Unit Development that would rewrite land-use rules for about 470 acres and 46 parcels; the Planning Commission had forwarded a positive recommendation and county staff will coordinate with the petitioner to schedule a board hearing in May.

Ms. Kercilius, speaking for county planning, said the amendment would consolidate and modernize the PUD’s regulations, proposing five development subdistricts—Neighborhood, Regional Services, Government Center, Conservation Development and Open Space/Parks—and a unified permitted-use table aligned with the Monroe County Development Ordinance. The petitioner is Logan Land Development LLC, represented by planning and design consultants MKSK, Ms. Kercilius said.

Key changes included replacing the older regional stormwater triggers with a site-by-site stormwater review under future development plans, clarifying density and impervious-cover standards, and retaining Plan Commission review for individual development plans. The amendment also formalizes a conservation-development district that allows small minimum lot sizes (5,000 square feet) where at least 50% of the conservation acreage must be designated as open space. Kercilius said the revision reduces the number of mandated road connections; in one instance a proposed road (identified in prior drafts as Road 8) was removed at the request of a property owner, IU Health.

Planning staff also recommended removing the prior ordinance’s requirement for an overpass or underpass across State Road 46; the petitioner and staff instead propose a primary pedestrian crossing at Hunter Valley Road and State Road 46 with sidewalk and multiuse-path connections as properties develop. The Planning Commission’s positive recommendation included edits accepted by the petitioner and remains subject to final highway department review, Kercilius said.

Commissioners did not vote on the amendment at the work session. Instead, they asked planning staff to check the petitioner’s availability and place the item on a future agenda, suggesting either the May 8 meeting or a later May date because of scheduling conflicts with the Peace Officers Memorial. Kercilius said she or staff would coordinate with petitioner contact Ms. Nestor Nestergellen and report back with a confirmed hearing date.

If approved by the Board of Commissioners, the revised PUD would set the framework for future development plans by specifying permitted uses, design criteria, transportation and stormwater expectations and review processes; each development plan would continue to receive Plan Commission review and public notice.