2024-25 County Comprehensive Plan – Notes – For the Record

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Last Updated: Apr 17, 2025

April 17, 2025,  Apr 22, 2025. Area Plan Commission (APC) Agenda – Titlton Re-Zone and Review Draft Revised Comprehensive Plan  APC Agenda April 22 2025

    •  (Continued from March 25, 2025). 25-RZ-02 BROWN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, PETITIONERS. The petitioners are requesting approval for rezoning property owned by William Jacob Capital, LLC, from General Business (GB), Floodplain (FP), and Floodway (FW) to Secondary Residential (R2), Floodplain (FP), and Floodway (FW). The property is located to the south and west of 279 West Main Street, Nashville, in Washington Township.  

    • WORK SESSION: Review and discussion of the Comprehensive Plan draft. Tentative plan is that once that review is completed, a public hearing will be slated (likely for the May 27th meeting.  After the public hearing, the APC will send a recommendation to the Commissioners and then it will be slated for a Commissioner meeting for final decision.

    • REVISED Brown County Comprehensive Plan 3.27.2025
    • “What are best bets for future of local economy?”  Sara Clifford, Brown County Democrat, Dec 28, 2016. Summary from the Community Readiness Initiative (CRI) facilitated by Ball State.  In 2017, our Low to Moderate Income (LMI) level was 53.1%.
      • To be eligible for State (OCRA) planning grants, the LMI requirement is 51%. We are now (April 2025) at 40.4%. – we are not eligible for these grants. Covid and broadband have contributed to an increase in higher-earning residents who can also work from home.
      •  A New Path for Brown County. A Hypothesis for a Modern Plan for growth and Economic Development in Brown County, Indiana, By Chris Schneider – December 5th, 2024
    • Commissioner Suggestions for Next Steps – APC Slide v3.

Mar 6, 2025. Nashville’s process for developing a Comprehensive Plan: Town plan public input deadline approaches

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Feb 14, 2025.  DRAFT Brown County Comprehensive Plan file size reduced for email. Next steps: A thorough county-wide review.

Purpose: A County Comprehensive Plan (CCP) represents the voice of the citizens as to what they want and do not want in terms of quality of life and development.  It supports zoning, and zoning influences the tax base.  The current plan was approved in 2011 and is less than 14 pages. A good argument can be made for or against a respective change.

In order to compete for grants and to manage change,  the plan should be updated at least every five years.  

Cost. A good plan has been estimated to cost around 80K.  Volunteers can also be used to lower costs and provide the opportunity for more community involvement. The funding currently available is around $37,000. The Community Foundation provided $26,750, and the planning department $10,000.  The money from the foundation needs to be spent by the end of the year.   it is expected that grant money will be available in 2025 to expand the plan. 

    • The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) offers a 60K grant if the county qualifies. The low to Moderate Income Level (LMI) must be 51% or higher.
    • An income survey in 2017 indicated an LMI of 53.1%. 

Approval. The commissioners approve the final plan, and the vote to approve will include public meetings.  

Quality. It should be an interesting process that will include phases.  Two months with holidays is a short time frame.  There is no deadline for completion.  Minimum requirements by the State include a Land Use Plan, Growth Plan, and Transportation Plan.

Contractor: Veridus Group. Jack Woods, Director of Community and Economic Development; Pete Olsen, Director of Government Services.

TIMELINE

Nov 19, 2024.  Dave Stafford: Survey says: County’s future needs your input 

    • We’re talking about establishing a new set of guidelines for what may be built or developed — and perhaps just as significant, what may not — right here in our community.
    • Survey takers generally have options to say that these things are not as important, but the questions themselves are revealing. They frame the discussion.

    • Well, primacy bias or not, let’s face it. It’s hard to argue that 46 East of town isn’t THE growth area of Brown County. It has been and will be. Right? Why, who knows what may come down the pike and set up shop out by the music center!

    • But hold on a minute … what about Bean Blossom? … Why not 46 west of Nashville? Why not Nashville itself? Wouldn’t these areas like a taste of this sweet, sweet growth and development? Or not? What do you think?

Nov 19, 2024. County gathers public input for master plan, By Staff Reports -November 19, 2024

    • The plan, which is expected to be presented for consideration next year, will serve as the county’s guide for future growth, development and local priorities.
    • The money for the consultant has to be spent by the end of this year, but that doesn’t mean the work will be completed by then.
    • Robertson said she didn’t believe the plan would change any existing zoning districts, though it may loosen or tighten rules for what may be allowed in those districts.

Nov 7, 2024. BCD, County comprehensive plan meetings, survey set

Nov 7, 2024. Post at Brown County Matters – Meeting locations, times, and survey questions.

Nov 5, 2024. Survey Comprehensive Plan

Oct 21, 2024.  Kick-Off, Steering Committee

Steering Committee members:  Bob Blass, Alice Suesmichel, Gary Huett, Kara Hammes, Andy Voils, Buzz King, Dan Raines, Clint Studabaker, Ross Benson.

Planning Director – Kayla Robertson.

Affiliations (Reference is the audio and personal knowledge)

    • County Government:
      • Gary Huett, President of the County Council. Initiated the steps to select a contractor.
      • Clint Studabaker – Brown County Regional Sewer District
      • Ross Benson – Redevelopment Commission
      • Area Plan Commission – Andy Voils (Contractor), Kara Hammes (Retail Business owner, guest rentals – Barn Burner in Nashville). Andy may be the only member who represents a resident/family that has lived in Brown County for more than one generation. 
      • Gnaw Bone Regional Sewer District – Dan Raines  (Wedding Barn Owner)
    • Brown County Community Foundation: Alice Suesmichel
    • Town of Nashville: Buzz King, former Nashville Town Council
    • Bob Blass – Owner – Tourist  Rental (s)

Audio of the Meeting

Oct 21, 2024. Comprehensive Plan – Project Outline – Veridus

    • Oct 29, 2024 -Next Steering Group Meeting
    • Nov 5, 2024 – Pass out surveys/information – voting locations
    • Nov 16, 2024 – Public Meetings – 2 locations (TBD)  10am-3pm

State’s Minimum Requirements

  1. Land Use Plan
  2. Growth Plan
  3. Transportation Plan

Additional Context

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