Angola City plan commission opens public hearing to audit UDO under state housing law

The Angola City Plan Commission opened a public hearing Aug. 10 to fulfill a state requirement under House Enrolled Act 1001 to audit the citys Unified Development Ordinance and zoning regulations as they relate to housing development. Rita Hicks, director of planning, read the state-required factors and told commissioners the hearing was intended to gather feedback before staff finalizes proposed UDO updates.

"I am opening up that public hearing," Hicks said as she outlined topics ranging from duplexes and accessory dwelling units to permitting timelines and design standards. Hicks told the board the city has already been working with a consultant to draft draft UDO updates and that the audit is meant to identify where the city might safely loosen restrictions to increase housing supply.

Hicks described the list of potential changes the state asks communities to consider: allowing higher-density dwellings in single-family zones, ADUs, manufactured and modular housing, adaptive reuse of commercial buildings for residential use, changes to lot-size and setback requirements, and streamlining permitting and fees. She also warned commissioners the audit is a reporting mechanism: staff must compile local housing metrics and submit them under the acts deadlines.

Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about enforcement capacity, neighborhood fit and infrastructure impacts; staff said no ordinance changes will be adopted on the spot and that the hearing will inform later committee and ordinance work. The commission closed the hearing after public input and scheduled further UDO work with staff and consultants.