Business representatives from the Mt. Comfort Gateway District presented their plan to establish a legal framework for community organizations similar to those in Marion County to the Hancock County Plan Commission at the commission’s October meeting.

The effort, led by Hancock Health, follows a months-long effort to establish a governing body for the gateway district which culminated in a proposal for a non-profit committee to work under the Plan Commission, which was ultimately abandoned after the proposal was determined to be illegal.

The new proposal would allow property and business owners within an area to establish a 501-c-3 nonprofit corporation in the area. Harold Gibson, director of property development for Hancock Health, said that the proposed organization for the Mt. Comfort Gateway would weigh in on growth and development issues, host events, hold and promote fundraising efforts, and promote beautification, marketing and economic development within the area. The boundaries of the area would be determined by the organization as part of their filing process with the county, although they would be subject to review, adjustment and approval by staff.

Gibson presented the idea to the Plan Commission, noting that, in a former job as a developer who did work within Marion County and a past member of those organizations, he had personal experience working with these organizations on both sides of the table, specifically mentioning Nora-Northside Community Council and Broad Ripple Village Association. He noted that developers seek these groups out for support before developing in the area with the knowledge that appearing before a board without the local organization’s support is an uphill battle.

“Your goal is to get the favor of those organizations before you get before the full commission,” Gibson said. “It isn’t written rule, but you knew well enough that if I was going in there against the neighborhood station, I probably was going to be challenged heavily by the commission.”

The specific proposal that Gibson presented would change two things within the rules of the Plan Commission and one in the Hancock County Code: Within the commission rules, neighborhood organizations would be included on public notice lists and would be granted their own five-minute time period to speak in public hearings similar to the time dedicated to public officials. Within the code, the definition of “interested party” would be revised to include these organizations.

These changes wouldn’t give any direct power to these organizations, but would guarantee them information on development within the county and a forum to voice their thoughts on those developments to the board directly rather than having a share of the 10 minutes collectively given to public comment.

A microcosm of the influence such a corporation could have was seen at the same meeting as Lennar Homes withdrew their petition for a planned unit development after receiving a continuance from December. Gibson spoke in September on issues that he and other Gateway district representatives had with the development, requesting that certain conditions be placed on the development. He went on to say that he was disappointed with Lennar’s withdrawal, but did say that this was a sign of the influence organizations like the one he and his group were proposing could have.

Gibson described the purpose of these community organizations as protecting property owners in an area, ensuring high-quality developments would keep property values high and saying that he and his partners viewed the future of the Gateway as an “upscale mixed-use community,” noting that it was possible that the area could corporate into a town of its own in the future. He went on to say that they would be fine with denser housing in the area to help with housing affordability, but that the group would not compromise on amenities or quality.

When asked by Plan Commission member Lacey Willard, Gibson said that the group was not interested in expanding the tax increment financing district which currently encompasses most of the Gateway area.

Gibson went on to say that this wasn’t a play for more influence by Hancock Health. “We do have a big influence. That’s just the way it is,” he said. “We affect a lot of people in the community and we have great leaders … We could have done this on our own and been the ones standing up there pounding our fist on the desk, running around all the time throwing our weight [around]. That is not what we want to do. We’re here and we’re investing in the people.”

Gibson went on to say that this proposal is a risk by Hancock Health. He noted that this process was opening the gates for other community organizations throughout the county and that the one established within the Gateway would be a proof of concept for the entire county.

“The burden of responsibility is on us to do this right,” he said. He later went on to note that a lot of the pressure was on him. “I just got to make sure that I don’t mess it up, honestly. I think those those neighbors and property owners have confidence in us, and hopefully, we grow this thing.”
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