On Monday, August 31st, several Fishers neighborhoods saw a large bus traveling through their subdivisions.  Most people living in these areas likely asked, what in the world is a large bus doing traveling through our residential streets?

Here is the answer.  A number of officials went on a bus tour of some areas in the city preparing for a new Fishers comprehensive plan.  Fishers, having been a town until 2015,  has never had a comprehensive plan.

The tour began at Cottingham Estates, a community approved in 1973 when Noblesville had legal jurisdiction for planning and zoning for that area.  The bus then traveled to Sunblest, approved in 1977.  The next stop was the Bristols, approved in 2001.  The Brooks Chase Planned Unit Development (PUD) area, also approved in 2001, was visited by the group.  Saxony, a subidivision approved in 2003, was the next destination for the bus tour. The bus ride ended with Silverton (2011), Gray Eagle (1995) and Hamilton Proper (1993).

The city’s Assistant Director of Planning, Rachel Johnson, provided commentary as the group rolled through the various neighborhoods.  For example, she pointed out that Cottingham, an early development, has no sidewalks.  Other subdivisions had various situations dealing with density and other amenities.

Mayor Scott Fadness reminded the group that all those involved in writing the comprehensive plan will need to consider what rules the city should lay out for future residential developments.

The mayor is heading up the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, which will oversee the various smaller committees tasked with writing various parts of the overall plan document.