By Sam Robinson
Whitestown leaders hope to redefine the image of the town, and they are looking for public input.
A joint commission of the Whitestown Plan Commission and the Whitestown Redevelopment Commission reviewed the 120-page town master plan, which outlines strategies for expanding the economy and developing a unique character.
“Empirically, Whitestown is in a very good position,” said Chris Hamm, a senior planner with HWC Engineering. “Vision is particularly important for a community growing as fast as Whitestown is.”
HWC Engineering is assisting on the draft of the plan for Whitestown, which saw 509 percent population growth between 2000 and 2010. That number is 471 people, but rate of growth outclasses comparably populated Indiana towns.
“The community members and stake holders are not satisfied with being a suburban community of Indianapolis,” Hamm said. “They want more.”
Hamm said that, although Whitestown has excellent public safety and municipal services, the town’s at risk of becoming “a community of subdivisions.”
“We want a community of neighborhoods,” Hamm said.
The plan calls for new high-density residential zones and mixed-use commercial and residential zones. The plan designates nine “community focus areas” on either side of I-65. Those areas will have new green spaces with retail and residences.
RDC members expressed concern that protections for agricultural land are not explicitly stated, but Hamm said that could be added in a future draft.
“We need to preserve the agricultural aspect of our community because people that,” said Robby Halford, the president of the RDC.
Whitestown Plan Commission president Clinton Bohm said that community input is key for the success of the project.
“I want as much public input on this as possible,” Bohm said. “We need multiple points of views to put this together.”
The next draft will be discussed on Aug. 3 at the Whitestown Municipal Complex.
