Land Use and Special Studies - June 3, 2026

The City of Carmel, Indiana Land Use and Special Studies Committee met on June 3, 2026, to discuss amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) fees related to the Engineering Department. The primary focus was the introduction of engineering review fees for development projects, which the city had not previously charged, unlike neighboring municipalities. The ordinance proposes fees for plan commission applications, board of zoning appeals, permits, and inspections, including new fees for engineering project inspections with a tiered structure based on project size. The committee reviewed justifications and comparative analyses of fees charged by nearby cities and discussed exemptions for single-family homes below certain lot sizes to avoid undue burden on typical homeowners. The committee also considered modest increases to fees for Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance reviews and amendments. The proposed fee changes aim to offset administrative costs and encourage higher quality submissions from developers, rather than generate significant revenue. The committee voted to forward the ordinance with recommended amendments and a positive recommendation to the City Council. Additionally, minor legal terminology clarifications in a related document were approved for referral to counsel with a positive recommendation.