Zoning decisions can shape the growth and character of a community for years, and Cambridge City’s Plan Commission is moving forward with updating the town’s own zoning roadmap.
During a June 30 public meeting, plan commission and three town council members met to review two consultants’ proposals for drafting new zoning ordinances for Cambridge City and its two-mile fringe and to determine whether such efforts are necessary.
Current zoning ordinances for the town were written in 1957, although the code for the surrounding area was updated more recently.
During 2025 budgeting, council members voted to allocate money for zoning updates. However, new concerns about potential state cuts in the town’s 2026 funding prompted leaders to request lower-cost options.
After more than 90 minutes of discussion, the commission decided to ask the two consultants for more specific information about what the town would receive. The commission meets again at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 10, in town hall, 127 N. Foote St., to review those answers.
The commission could make a recommendation that night for councilors to review and possibly select during their regular meeting at 6 p.m. July 14 in town hall.
Ground Rules of Zionsville initially submitted a proposal of $37,500 for a fully illustrated color “ultra user-friendly” document. Upon request, it provided streamlined options to create that document for $29,400 with fewer meetings, or just the zoning amendments with minimal illustrations costing $12,000 to $17,000.
Town attorney Bob Bever offered the services of his law firm, Boston Bever Forrest Cross & Sickmann, to update the ordinances for $10,000. He said the offer was not being made for any self-serving purposes, but solely as a possible alternative to accomplish the need for a lesser cost than others proposed.
Town officials have noted that its laborers’ aging and continually breaking equipment is costing staff time and repair fees, and any savings could help address those concerns.
Plan commission member Robert Miller asked why the updates were needed, and suggested the town could find and revise other communities’ documents without needing to hire help.
Miller’s not sure the town will get its money’s worth for the updates, and said it’s important to determine whether the town is trying to attract families with new subdivisions, or factories, and then put resources into those efforts.
Council President Jim McLane said the first step noted in the implementation section of the town’s 2019 comprehensive plan is updating zoning. Earlier this year, helping a resident sell a house in an industrial zone took many hours to resolve, he said, and similar future issues could develop.
McLane said Cambridge City needs to look at the big picture for growth, which starts with zoning, and it would be nice to attract a home developer.
“We have to be ready for those, and I don’t think we are,” McLane said.
Joe Webb, new public works superintendent, supports the updates. He said he’s currently helping a resident wanting to add a barn but is facing insurance and financing questions because of multiple zoning concerns.
Town officials also said they would need a zoning review before considering any annexation to bring in additional revenue.
Commission members noted both the benefits of Ground Rules’ outside perspective and specialty knowledge, and Bever’s experience with Cambridge City’s legal matters.
To conclude the meeting, most members agreed they need to proceed with one of the two proposals after receiving more details.
A version of this article will appear in the July 9 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.