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Applications are available on our Applications & Forms page.

A plat petition would be required to subdivide land to provide for additional building lots for single-family and two-family dwellings. Condominiums and commercially and industrially zoned land and uses are not subject to the regulations of the Subdivision Control Ordinance.

A vacation petition would be required to vacate public rights-of-way, easements, platted lots, subdivisions and other specific platted and dedicated items of a subdivision plat.

Filing

In order for a petition to be heard by the Plat Committee, it must be filed, with consent of the property owner(s), at least 40 days before a scheduled hearing. Each petition, timely filed and complete, is docketed for hearing. Generally, in order to file a complete plat or vacations application, the following would be required:

Plat

• A completed application form
• Consent of the property owner
• A legal description
• A zoning base map
• A subdivision plat prepared by a registered land surveyor
• Transmittal letters (and other plans, as needed)
• Findings of fact (for plat waivers)
• The applicable filing fee

Vacations

• A completed application form
• Consent of the property owner
• A legal description
• A zoning base map
• A recorded plat or surveyed drawing showing the proposed dedication, (and other plans, as needed)
• Findings of fact
• The applicable filing fee

Public notice must be provided for all petitions. The Plat Committee's rules of procedure require that written legal notice (prepared by staff) be provided, by the petitioner, to surrounding property owners, registered neighborhood groups and city-county councilors at least 23 days before a hearing and that a notice placard (prepared by staff) be placed on the property. The petitioner must also give notice, to all property owners abutting the right-of-way, from intersection to intersection, containing the proposed vacation. The petitioner must obtain consent from all property owners abutting the proposed vacation. Indiana Code requires that published public notice, which is the responsibility of staff, be provided at least ten days before a hearing.

The petitioner and potential remonstrators (anyone who objects to the petition) each have the right to file one automatic continuance request. An automatic continuance must be filed, at least seven calendar days before the hearing, with proper notice, and be the first request by the requesting party.

Both the petitioner and remonstrator have the right to request a continuance for cause, which may be granted or denied by the PC, as long as the request is made prior to the PC vote on the petition.

The petitioner and / or their representative must attend the hearing to present their request. The current planning staff will prepare a staff report, based on a consensus staff recommendation. A copy of the staff  report will be mailed to the petitioner and the members of the PC a week before the hearing. Petitioners and remonstrators, respectively, shall be given fifteen (15) minutes to present evidence, statements and arguments at the public hearing. Staff will be given a reasonable time to present its information and recommendation. The petitioner and remonstrator shall then be given five (5) minutes for rebuttal.  After all testimony is presented, the PC will vote to approve, continue, deny or dismiss the petition. A petitioner may withdraw a petition at any time prior to a vote.

Any decision of the Plat Committee may be appealed to the Metropolitan Development Commission. An appeal must be filed, within ten calendar days of the Plat Committee's decision, in our offices, and notice must be provided to the opposing party in accordance with the Plat Committee's Rules of Procedure.