PENDLETON — The town council has approved updates to Pendleton’s comprehensive and downtown revitalization plans, affirming officials’ vision for managing future growth and development opportunities.
The plans were approved unanimously during the council’s regular meeting last Thursday. The new comprehensive plan is the town’s first since 2018, while the downtown revitalization plan is the first since 2015.
“They both have really good goals and objectives that you can make a checklist out of,” said Pendleton Planning Director Hannahrose Urbanski. “That way, you can make sure your planning staff, your town council, your planning commission and historic preservation groups are all on the same page and working toward those goals.”
She said the plans share similar functions, helping to map out big-picture views of the town’s overall development, as well as specific ideas for the historic downtown area.
Town officials brought in HWC Engineering, an Indianapolis-based firm, as consultants on the development of each plan. During the process, which began in earnest in January, they worked with town administrators to develop timelines, create surveys and gather public input on each plan.
Urbanski said input from the community about each plan was vital. The plans were developed concurrently.
“What they were able to do was combine the outreach efforts, so people don’t get public input fatigue,” Urbanski said. “If we were to do the comp plan in January, and then start the downtown plan next January … people can get a little exhausted giving input on things.
“Each one had its own set of things to comment on, but that really got us so much public input,” she added. “We got at least 400 surveys and responses online when this began for both these plans.”
Urbanski said some objectives from previous plans were carried over to the updated plans, such as stormwater issues and projects. She added that, with many items from the old plans already in place, officials could focus more on completing the new plans.
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