The Metropolitan Development Commission passed Proposal 178, strategic amendments that revise Indy Rezone to implement Transit-oriented development district overlay, promote housing diversity and enhanced walkability

The Metropolitan Development Commission unanimously approved the passage of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Ordinance that will create community and economic development opportunities within Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines across Indianapolis.

“The passage of the Transit-Oriented Development Ordinance is a major milestone for Indianapolis, part of a larger effort to reevaluate how we look at our infrastructure in a more holistic way,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This approach makes clear that investments in our public transit system will positively impact the health, safety, environmental and economic outcomes of our residents. From safe streets to walk and bike, to easy access to jobs, to improved public spaces, TOD prioritizes equity for neighbors across our city. I’m incredibly proud of Director Scarlett Andrews Martin and the DMD staff for their tireless work on the ordinance and their collaboration with community partners and stakeholders.”

The passage of the TOD ordinance amends Indy Rezone, the Indianapolis-Marion County Consolidated Zoning Ordinance, to support housing diversity, enhanced walkability, and context-based design that supports greater connectivity.

The passed amendments include:

• Recalibrating the lot and yard standards in Dwelling Districts across Marion County to support and encourage infill-housing development;
• Revising the development standards for Mixed-Use Districts to promote commercial and neighborhood development;

• Adding design standards that support walkability, improved streetscapes, and better residential and commercial design;
• An array of housing types that will support greater housing diversity and affordability.

In addition to the strategic amendments, this legislation implements the Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District. This district identifies commercial and mixed-use property along BRT lines to provide additional development standards that require higher levels of scrutiny for design standards of development projects.

“This people-focused philosophy is a shift from car-centered planning in the way Indy views transportation,” said Scarlett Andrews Martin, director of the City’s Department of Metropolitan Development. “Transit-oriented development is the kind of update to development that our community wants – it’s what they need. It prioritizes people and sustainable neighborhoods as the focus and provides solutions that directly address equity and resiliency.”

The City of Indianapolis uses proximity to BRT routes as a first-tier priority in reviewing applications for funding construction of affordable housing. DMD will continue its work expanding housing affordability in our city.

Proposal 178  was sponsored by City-County Council President Vop Osili and Majority Leader Maggie Lewis, the chairwoman of the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee.

“As Far Eastside residents prepare for construction of IndyGo’s Purple Line, I’m excited to see the TOD ordinance be adopted by the Metropolitan Development Commission,” said Councillor La Keisha Jackson. “For many communities of color in Indianapolis, a lack of mobility has translated into a lack of ‘upward mobility’. This ordinance creates a symbiotic relationship that can help bring both of those to neighborhoods like District 14 that have long been cut off from the economic growth of our city center. TOD will create economic and community development into these areas and help us lift the quality of life for our residents.”

The ordinance development process was also supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. Indianapolis was one of 25 winning cities in the Climate Challenge, which helps cities set and surpass ambitious climate goals by ramping up action in the two highest-emitting sectors in cities: transportation and buildings.

“The Transit-Oriented Development Ordinance drives home a key philosophy of the American Cities Climate Challenge: sustainable transit isn’t just good for climate, it also provides economic opportunities for the community and can help alleviate inequity and affordability,” said Kelly Shultz, sustainable cities program lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Bloomberg Philanthropies is thrilled to support Indianapolis in passing this ordinance, which will ensure that any future investments in the city’s infrastructure will prioritize peoples’ health, safety, and accessibility.”

The City partnered with local, regional and national transportation, housing, and zoning practitioners who have experience with Transit-Oriented Development, including: Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC), Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), IndyGo, and land use consultant, Gould Evans.

The TOD amendments will go into effect on November 1, 2021.