WHAT HAPPENED: Carmel and Fishers among Safest Cities in America
WHAT IT MEANS: Mayor Jim Brainard shared a news release that ranks Carmel 33 in the nation’s safest cities. He also congratulated neighboring Fishers for achieving No. 19 in the NeighborhoodScout report. The report ranks cities with populations of more than 25,000.
NeighborhoodScout.com ranked cities from data of 17,000 law enforcement agencies. The site provides information for real estate research and includes 300 statistics on crime, schools and home values. Money magazine called it “the best, most-trusted source for choosing a neighborhood.”
“I am proud of our fully accredited police department and the dedicated officers and civilians that work hard each day to keep us safe,” Brainard said. “I think this ranking also reflects well on the efforts of our Crime Watch neighborhoods, the Citizens Police Academy and the Teen Academy.”
WHAT HAPPENED: Public hearing, property rezoning
WHAT IT MEANS: Adrian Keely of the Department of Community Services presented a diagram of six properties northwest of Carmel Drive and Range Line Road which include Langston Development, Party Time Rental, and Arby’s.
These properties would be rezoned from B3 business district to C1 City Center District. City center district properties require development approval of the Redevelopment Commission and allow for mixed uses that include retail.
Keely explained the rezoning would “increase values of the site” and address infrastructure issues in the area such as the extension of Veteran’s Way, overhead power lines, and the difficult topography of the Party Time parcel.
WHAT’S NEXT: The ordinance has been sent to the Land Use, Annexation and Economic Development Committee. The committee’s next meeting will be today at 5:30 p.m. in the Caucus Room at City Hall.
WHAT HAPPENED: Agreement with Indiana Dept. of Transportation
WHAT IT MEANS: Councilor Sue Finkam introduced three ordinances adopting an agreement between the city and the Indiana Dept. of Transportation regarding the U.S. 31 project.
The agreement would include the transfer of portions of old U.S. 31 in Hamilton County and determine landscape and road maintenance from 96th Street to 146th Street.
WHAT’S NEXT: These three ordinances have been referred to the Land Use, Annexation and Economic Development Committee. The committee’s next meeting will be today at 5:30 p.m. in the Caucus Room at City Hall.