A cold, snowy early March day did not deter supporters of the disability community from gathering at Fishers City Hall Monday morning to mark the beginning of Disability Awareness Month.

The City of Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability organized the kickoff event, led by co-chairs Cecilia Coble and Kelly Hartman.

Jessica Minor of the accessABILITY Center for Independent Living delivered the keynote address. Minor shared her personal story of overcoming significant disabilities, as well as the challenges faced and overcome by her husband. Both have built successful careers and are raising two children.

Minor emphasized that accommodations are a part of everyday life for many people, noting that something as common as wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses is, in fact, an accommodation.

Mayor Scott Fadness told those in attendance that promoting accessibility and inclusion aligns with his long-stated vision of building Fishers into a smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial city.

As part of the event, the city awarded three grants to support organizations serving the disability community: Fishers United Methodist Church, Opportunities for Positive Growth, and Outside the Box.

Several individuals and organizations were also recognized for their contributions:

• Life Without Limits Award — Crysta Coble

• Cornerstone Employer Award — Amanda Smith and Spavia

• Accessibility Award — Dalia Kassas and Sara MacGregor

• FACD Years of Service Award — Shelby Slowik

Additional photos from the event are posted below.

Continue reading Fishers Launches Disability Awareness Month with City Hall Ceremony →

Weather forecasters said Sunday that accumulating snow might stay south of Fishers, but the track of the system remained uncertain.

By Monday morning, that uncertainty was gone.

Fishers received between 1 and 2 inches of snow overnight, prompting Hamilton Southeastern Schools to operate on a two-hour delay. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the area through 9 a.m.

Forecasters warn that untreated roads, bridges and overpasses are likely to become slick. Hazardous travel conditions could affect the Monday morning commute.

Motorists are urged to allow extra time, reduce speed and use caution while traveling.

At a recent meeting of the Fishers Plan Commission, neighbors voiced opposition to a proposed memory care center along Brooks School Road. As the public hearing concluded, City Councilor Pete Peterson — who also serves on the Plan Commission — warned those in attendance about legislation moving through the Indiana General Assembly that he said could significantly limit, or even eliminate, local control over such land-use decisions in the future.

The General Assembly wrapped up its 2026 session Friday. So what, exactly, did lawmakers send to Governor Mike Braun on that issue?

The answer is a sweeping housing measure aimed at increasing residential development statewide and reducing housing costs — but one that stops short of fully stripping zoning authority from cities like Fishers.

Required review of local zoning rules

Under the new law, local governments must hold a public hearing by January 1, 2027, to review their unified development ordinance (UDO) and zoning rules “with the goal of increasing housing development.”

The legislation directs cities and counties to specifically consider a wide range of changes, including:

• Allowing duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in areas currently zoned for single-family homes
• Permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
• Encouraging adaptive reuse of commercial buildings into residential housing
• Increasing allowable density and floor-area ratios in multifamily districts
• Reducing or eliminating minimum lot sizes, setback requirements and parking mandates
• Shortening permitting timelines and streamlining approval processes

Local governments are also required to submit a report to the Legislative Services Agency outlining what changes were made — or explaining why changes were not adopted.

The law does not mandate that cities adopt these reforms. However, it requires them to publicly examine their land-use rules through the lens of housing production and formally document their response to the state.

Impact fees and development costs

The legislation also tightens rules on local impact fees — the charges assessed on new development to pay for infrastructure such as roads and public safety facilities.  Fishers has made use of such fees for many years.

Under the new framework, impact fees must meet more uniform standards and procedural requirements. Lawmakers argue this will create predictability and reduce development costs. Local officials, however, have expressed concern that additional state oversight could limit flexibility in planning for growth.

What it means for Fishers

Fishers retains zoning authority under the new law. The Plan Commission and City Council will still vote on rezonings and development proposals, including projects like the Brooks School Road memory care center.

However, the city will be required to formally review its development code and consider whether its standards — including density limits and design requirements — are restricting housing supply.

The broader message from the Statehouse is clear: local zoning authority remains in place, but it must now operate within a statewide policy push favoring increased housing density and reduced regulatory barriers.

For residents who packed the Plan Commission meeting concerned about a single project, the larger debate about local control and housing policy may just be beginning.

The Indy Ignite shook off a rough opening set Sunday and powered past the Omaha Supernovas 3-1 at Fishers Event Center, winning 17-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-13.

The victory pushed Indy to a league-best 12-2 record at the midpoint of the Major League Volleyball season and extended the Ignite’s winning streak to six matches, a franchise high.

After Omaha controlled the first set, Indy head coach Lauren Bertolacci went to outside hitter Kayla Lund in the second set — and the match changed. Playing extended minutes for the first time in about a month after dealing with a knee injury, Lund delivered 14 kills on 20 swings, finishing with a .700 kill rate and 10 digs for a double-double.

Indy edged the second set 25-22, then used a key surge in the third to take a 2-1 lead. The Ignite closed the third set with outside hitter Anna DeBeer scoring Indy’s final three points, including a service ace, in a 25-21 win.

The fourth set was all Indy. The Ignite jumped out early, hit at a blistering clip in the clincher, and rolled to a 25-13 finish. Indy hit .374 as a team for the match, a figure Omaha noted as the highest hitting percentage the Supernovas have allowed.

DeBeer led Indy with 19 points (13 kills, three aces, three blocks). Lund and opposite Camryn Hannah added 14 points apiece, and middle blocker Lydia Martyn chipped in 10. Setter Mia Tuaniga posted 52 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.

Omaha was led by Emily Londot with a match-high 19 points. The match drew 4,483 fans.

Indy’s next match is Sunday, March 8, at home against Grand Rapids

For nearly a decade, I have recorded and produced podcasts in and around Fishers. As a one-person operation since 2016, that means not only asking the questions, but also handling every technical aspect of production.

Over the years, there have been minor technical issues. Until now, I have always managed to work around them and get each podcast posted.

Last week, for the first time, I lost an entire recording due to a catastrophic technical failure.

That loss is particularly disappointing because the podcast was my annual preview of Disability Awareness Month in Fishers. Fishers City Councilor Cecilia Coble, who chairs the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, and Molly Connolly, who oversees Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) matters for the City of Fishers, joined me for what was a thoughtful and informative discussion. Both have long been deeply involved in disability advocacy and inclusion efforts locally, and they had much to share about this year’s observance.

Unfortunately, that entire conversation was lost.

Even without the podcast, March 1 marks the beginning of Disability Awareness Month, and the observance deserves attention. The City of Fishers and the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability will sponsor a variety of events throughout the month, partnering with local organizations to highlight the contributions of residents with physical and intellectual disabilities and to promote greater understanding and inclusion across the community.

During my 28 years in the federal government — as a rank-and-file employee, union official and manager — I saw firsthand the quality of work individuals with disabilities can produce when given the opportunity and the accommodations they need. It remains one of the most underutilized pools of talent in our workforce.

Each March, Fishers makes a deliberate effort to spotlight those contributions and encourage broader awareness.

Readers can learn more about Disability Awareness Month events and activities in Fishers at this link.

It was Chicago Blackhawks Night at the Fishers Event Center Saturday, complete with a booming rendition of the national anthem by longtime Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison and a sellout crowd of 6,572.

But the pageantry did not translate into goals for the home team.

Iowa Heartlanders goaltender William Rousseau turned aside every shot he faced, lifting Iowa to a 2-0 victory over the Indy Fuel. Both goals came in the opening period, and the Fuel were unable to recover.

Jonny Sorenson opened the scoring for the Heartlanders a little more than six minutes into the first period, giving Iowa an early 1-0 edge. Jaxon Nelson added to the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the period.

That was all the offense Iowa would need.

The Fuel generated chances over the final 40 minutes, but Rousseau was steady in net, preserving the shutout. Indy pulled goaltender Owen Flores with under three minutes remaining in regulation in favor of an extra attacker, but the move failed to produce a late breakthrough.

Despite the loss, the atmosphere was playoff-like. The building was loud throughout the night. The Fuel, however, could not convert that energy into offense.

With the defeat, Indy remains in the thick of the ECHL playoff race, where every point is critical down the stretch.  The Fuel remain in third place in the Western Conference Central Division.

The Fuel continue their homestand at the Fishers Event Center in the coming week when the Wichita Thunder visit for a three-game series. The teams meet Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Indiana General Assembly has approved legislation that would prohibit cities and towns from enforcing rental home caps — a move that directly affects Fishers, which adopted a 10 percent cap on single-family rentals in certain subdivisions last year.

The measure, House Bill 1210, now heads to the governor for signature.

If signed into law, the bill would bar local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances, policies or regulations that “prohibit or restrict” a homeowner from renting a residential property — or that have the effect of doing so. That language is widely viewed as preempting municipal rental-cap ordinances like the one in Fishers.

What it means for Fishers

Fishers’ ordinance limits rental properties in certain neighborhoods to 10 percent of homes within a subdivision. The stated goal was to maintain owner-occupied stability while addressing concerns about investor-owned properties.

Under HB 1210, cities would no longer be allowed to impose that type of percentage cap. If the governor signs the bill, Fishers would likely be required to stop enforcing its rental-cap framework.

The legislation does allow local governments to continue enforcing:

• Building and fire codes
• Health and safety standards
• Reasonable occupancy limits
• Registration and inspection programs — so long as those measures do not function as a de facto rental cap

In other words, Fishers could still require rental registration or inspections, but it could not limit the number of homes in a neighborhood that may be rented.

The law includes a delayed compliance provision for ordinances adopted before January 1, 2026, but ultimately requires local governments to bring those ordinances into compliance.

What the bill does not change

Importantly, the legislation applies only to local governments — not to homeowners associations.

HOAs in Fishers may still adopt or enforce covenants restricting rentals within their communities.

However, the conference committee report for HEA 1210 adds a significant limitation on who can vote on those issues.

Under new language on page 218 of the report:

Beginning after the law takes effect, only HOA members who use their property as a homestead — as defined under Indiana’s property tax homestead deduction statute (IC 6-1.1-12-37) — may vote on:

1. A prohibition or restriction on an owner using a residential property as a rental property, or

2. Any restriction regarding the use of property as a rental property.

In practical terms, “homestead” status generally means the property is the owner’s primary residence and qualifies for Indiana’s homestead property tax deduction.

What that means

In Fishers subdivisions governed by HOAs:

• Investor-owners who do not live in the home would not be allowed to vote on rental-cap amendments or new rental restrictions.
• Only resident homeowners who claim the property as their primary residence could cast votes on rental policy questions.

The law also restricts eligibility for HOA board service in the same manner, meaning board members must use the property as their homestead.

There is one exception: developers are not subject to this limitation while they still own lots within the subdivision. The statute defines a developer as a person or entity engaged in acquiring and improving land for residential construction and sale or lease.

Broader housing policy shift

HB 1210 is part of a broader package of housing-related legislation aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing costs statewide. Lawmakers argued that local rental caps limit property rights and restrict housing availability.

Supporters say the bill protects homeowners’ rights to use their property as they see fit. Critics argue it strips cities like Fishers of local control to address neighborhood concerns.

If signed, the law would represent a significant shift in housing policy for Fishers, moving rental regulation authority away from City Hall and leaving most rental limitation decisions to private HOAs and the market itself.

The effective date of the legislation is July 1, 2026, if signed into law by Governor Mike Braun.

(Note:  this story was revised to include language in the final conference report dealing with HOA governance and developers)

The weather has recently seen temperatures go up and down, but a sure sign spring is on the way is a longer road construction update for the week starting Monday, March 2.  Note lane restrictions along 116th Street in the area east of Hague Road.  Also, look for preliminary work on the coming improvements at the 116th Street and Allisonville Road intersection.

Here is the full listing , as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the work week starting Monday, March 2 →