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ProjectCivility roundtable found residents willing to discuss housing civility, with concerns about density and workforce housing
Summary
Councilor Jeff Worrell summarized a 10‑group online deliberative dialogue that found residents value schools, safety and community, expressed mixed emotions about density, and urged the city to explore workforce and middle‑housing strategies. Commissioners praised the format and asked for the full report.
Councilor Jeff Worrell reported results from a ProjectCivility roundtable that hosted 10 simultaneous, moderated online groups to surface resident perspectives on housing and growth.
Worrell said participants rated the experience highly (4.6 out of 5), that 100% strongly agreed they could express opinions safely, and that 82% found the format more productive than traditional forums. He summarized 10 core findings including that residents value schools and safety, often resist infrastructure changes initially but come to value them, and that Carmel faces a constrained land supply pushing a choice between halting growth or growing vertically. Participants flagged a steep rise in entry‑level prices (Worrell cited a new entry level of about $350,000) and urged strategies to help teachers, police and firefighters find local housing options.
Commission reaction: Commissioners praised the exercise and asked about repeating the format in person; Worrell said the group will continue the work and seeks sponsorship to scale it. Commissioners agreed staff should share the full 39‑page report and summaries with council and the public.
Context: The roundtable was presented as a complement to the Opticos scan and the statutory UDO work. Commissioners said the findings provide timely resident context as Carmel moves toward the public hearing and UDO review required by state law.
