The Greene County Commissioners learned in detail how the upcoming Interstate 69 Planning Grant will work and how it relates to the establishment of land use planning in the county.

Greene County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Joan Bethell told the commissioners Tuesday that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will soon be releasing details on the I-69 Planning Program grant recipients.

She stressed that the planning grant and its components are not land use planning or zoning, however, they could lay the ground work for the establishment of an Area Plan Commission.

"The preparation of land use controls is not part of the I-69 Community Planning Grant. Once a local jurisdiction has adopted a comprehensive plan, it may prepare and adopt land use controls -- such as land use zoning regulations, subdivision control regulations, or thoroughfare plans," Bethell stated. "The exercise of land use controls remains a prerogative of the local legislative body and is not mandatory under any Indiana law.

She added, "No land use control is retro-active. They do not regulate agricultural operations and they do not trump the Indiana Right-to-Farm Act."

The county -- in a joint application in cooperation with the city of Linton and the town of Bloomfield -- has been awarded a $150,000 planning grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

An I-69 Planning Grant Committee has already been formed including county representatives Garry Heshelman and Steve Crowe, Linton reps Brad McKinney and Chris Wathen and Bloomfield appointees Dave Harding and Ron Corwin.

"We're waiting for release of the grant funds from the state and in the meantime we have to be prepared so we are ready to roll as soon as they give us the release," Bethell told the Greene County Daily World.

The seven-member local I-69 Planning Grant Committee will be charged with a variety of duties including:

* Reviewing the proposed contract with BLA to ensure compliance with the scope of the inter-governmental agreement.

* Reviewing the guidelines provided by both Purdue University Land Use Team and the consultant, for selection of ideal candidates for the Steering Committee.

* Solicits and reviews nominations for, and selects candidates for the Steering Committee.

"This committee will meet when necessary, but not more than five times during the project," she said.

Bethell said that although State Planning Enabling Legislation allows for governing bodies -- such as the Greene County Commissioners, the Linton City Council and the Bloomfield Town Council -- to form an Area Plan Commission to function as the steering committee to oversee the development of the plans, that particular procedure is not recommended for the county.

Bethell said, "It requires too many decisions by local legislative bodies in an advance of public input. Advance selection of the planning commission is most effective when the planning process is embraced by the general community and local legislative bodies agree in advance of the completion of the plans."

The creation and participation in a plan commission is the prerogative of each local legislative body.

"Selection of members to form an Advisory or Area Plan Commission is recommended after the plan has been prepared," she said. "This will enable each participating local legislative body to decide whether they want to merely accept the comprehensive plan or form a Plan Commission and adopt the comprehensive plan by resolution. Further, adoption of a comprehensive plan does not compel any local legislative body to get into the land use controls business."

Bethell went on to explain the role and function of the larger the steering committee, which she said could include up to 40 members.

Working under the I-69 Planning Grant Committee, this is a larger group that works with the consultant throughout the plan development process and is comprised of four sub-committees:

* I-69 Corridor Plan

* Greene County Comprehensive Plan (which will include the recommendations of the I-69 Corridor Plan)

* Tourism component of the Greene County Comprehensive Plan

* Bloomfield Comprehensive Plan, which includes the town of Bloomfield and the surrounding two-mile area.

"These are the 'champions' of the planning process who have a strong interest in the future of their community and who are willing to work as a team to arrive at a consensus," Bethell stated.

She continued, "We are soliciting nominations from the community for

this steering committee."

Bethell stressed that it is key to get a variety of people from every area the county to serve on this committee.

The role of the Advisory (or Area) Plan Commission(s) is to ensure that future development is in accordance with their respective comprehensive plan. However, the role of a plan commission remains advisory only to the local legislative body until such time that the local legislative body directs the plan commission to oversee the development of growth management tools."

Commissioner Kathy Crouch said she had some reservations whether as many as 40 volunteers could be gathered in the next few weeks to serve on the steering committee.

Bethell replied, "I've got quite a few names that have already popped to the surface."

The GCEDC director would like to have nominations forwarded to her no later than March 24.

Bethell concluded, "Please keep in mind that the planning process typically takes about 12-18 months. The development of land use controls is a separate process and involves a discretionary decision of each local legislative body involved."

Bethell can be reached by calling 847-4500 or by e-mail at jbethell@gcedc.us