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Council holds first reading on municipal riverfront district to spur downtown permits
Summary
Staff presented a first reading of an ordinance to create a municipal riverfront district to streamline development review and allow additional ATC alcohol permits for restaurants; council asked for clearer RDC/mayor/council approval language and held the ordinance for second reading.
City legal and planning staff introduced an ordinance to establish a municipal riverfront district project area intended to encourage development, provide a structured application process and enable additional alcohol-service permits administered by the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission (ATC).
Staff reviewed the proposed boundaries (Beaver Dam Ditch runs through the district), an application checklist and an exhibit showing past state/local fund allocations. The ordinance would require a written commitment by applicants and a multi-step review that begins with the Redevelopment Commission (RDC), the mayor and possible council review before an ATC application.
Council members asked for clarification about the internal approval flow — whether RDC should recommend to the mayor and the mayor should be obligated to present recommendations to the council — and about the proposed one-time application fee the draft sets at $25,000 to offset city administrative costs. Staff said the language can be refined before second reading and noted the draft follows templates used by other Indiana municipalities.
Council action: motion made to read the title only and hold the ordinance for second reading; no adoption occurred at this meeting.
Why it matters: the district would add a permitting tool intended to support downtown restaurants and redevelopment while preserving council oversight through renewal and written commitments.
