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Carmel commission outlines steps to meet state UDO review deadline in House Enrolled Act 1001
Summary
The Mayor's Advisory Commission on Housing discussed the state law’s required UDO audit and public hearing, a Jan. 1, 2027 reporting deadline, and operational impacts including fee-timing changes and additional housing-progress reporting. Staff said the city is positioned to comply and will rely on the Opticos missing-middle scan.
The Mayor's Advisory Commission on Housing on March 26 reviewed requirements in the recently enacted House Enrolled Act 1001 and next steps for Carmel to update its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
Chair Menar said the law’s chief aim “is to encourage higher density housing and expedite construction by modernizing and deregulating UDOs,” and summarized key deadlines and reporting tasks the city must meet, including a mandatory public hearing and a comprehensive audit of the UDO. Menar told the commission the city must submit a progress report to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2027 that includes prior housing studies and documentation of any UDO amendments.
Why it matters: The law requires local jurisdictions to evaluate nine statutory factors — including missing-middle housing types, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reduced parking minimums and streamlined permitting — and to document how any changes support increased housing development. Menar said Carmel’s existing work, including a missing‑middle scan under way with Opticos, gives the city a head start.
Operational impacts: Director Hollibaugh briefed the commission on practical effects. He said the public hearing will be “the most significant impact on us,” and explained fee-timing changes: the city’s automatic annual Consumer Price Index adjustment is being replaced by a five‑year increment for fee adjustments, and new building‑permit fees will have a 180‑day waiting period before taking effect. Hollibaugh said much of the required housing-progress data is already gathered in monthly reports but acknowledged some additional data collection and coordination with outside sources may be needed.
Commission role and next steps: Commissioners discussed how the advisory group and staff can support council and plan commission work. Menar asked the commission to help prioritize tasks so city staff and legal counsel can prepare for the public hearing and the report. Adrienne Keeling, a planner with the Department of Community Services, told the group Opticos will deliver a missing‑middle scan in the coming months that staff will use to inform UDO amendments.
Formal actions: The only recorded motion earlier in the meeting — the approval of prior meeting minutes — carried unanimously. No formal ordinance amendments or council votes occurred at this session.
What’s next: Staff expects to receive the Opticos scan in a few months and said the city may add special meetings to review the work before drafting UDO changes for public hearings. The commission scheduled its next meeting for May 28 at 9 a.m.
