Citizens State Bank has eliminated the drive-through from its proposed new branch on East 116th Street and substantially reworked the building’s design—changes that helped the project win a unanimous favorable recommendation Wednesday from the Fishers Advisory Plan Commission.

The branch is proposed for a 0.83-acre site at 13562 E. 116th St., just west of Olio Road. The commission’s action is a recommendation, not final approval. The rezoning now returns to the Fishers City Council.

The changes followed continued discussions with nearby residents, particularly those in the 114th Street area, after the bank presented its original proposal to the council at a July 20 first reading. Several council members questioned whether a drive-through banking operation was appropriate for the site.

The revised concept removes the drive-through and depicts a low-profile, residential-scale building with pitched roofs, light-colored masonry, wood accents and extensive landscaping. The proposed planned unit development, or PUD, would limit the building to a 4,500-square-foot footprint and a height of 24 feet. It also would allow no more than 27 parking spaces and require the property to remain a single-tenant, owner-occupied development.

Four nearby residents spoke during the Plan Commission’s public hearing. Much of their concern centered on traffic in an already congested area, particularly the effect of vehicles making left turns. Residents also raised questions about the bank’s proposed signage.

The draft PUD would limit the property to one freestanding ground or monument sign. Building signs on the south and east facades would be limited to 10 square feet, with lettering no taller than 12 inches. Parking-lot lighting would be kept to the minimum required by city standards and dimmed overnight.

The Fishers Engineering Department reviewed the proposed branch and its full-access driveway on 116th Street. In an Aug. 3 memorandum, Engineering Director Hatem Mekky said the bank is not expected to have a negative effect on traffic along the corridor.

“There is no concern on the approach intersection with 116th Street,” the memorandum stated.

The department said it would continue monitoring access points along 116th Street and could revisit access to the property if problems develop. A different business operating at the site in the future would require another engineering review.

The property is currently governed by the Drive Planning PUD, approved by the City Council on a 9-0 vote in January 2024 for a single-tenant office development. Before that rezoning, the property was classified R2 residential. The city’s Fishers 2040 comprehensive plan continues to identify the surrounding area as suburban residential.

The commission’s favorable recommendation carried one additional request: Council members should discuss how changes to the PUD would impact their final vote.

The City Council is scheduled to consider the rezoning at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday, Aug. 17, in the Fishers Municipal Center Theater.

Disclosure: Citizens State Bank sponsors the LarryInFishers podcast series.