Noting budget uncertainties for the town, Cambridge City’s Plan Commission will aim to address zoning concerns without the help of outside consultants at this time.
During its July 10 meeting, commission members considered whether to recommend the town council hire a Zionsville firm for $12,000-$17,000 or the town’s current lawyer for $10,000 to redo the town’s maps and zoning ordinances from the 1950s.
The Zionsville firm’s initial proposal was for $37,500 before commission members requested a reduced version.
Council had allocated money in its 2025 budget for the updates from Economic Development Income Tax funds.
However, after considering that the town won’t receive about $55,000 next year in EDIT funds unless state lawmakers reverse funding changes, and a separate funding decline is also expected after property tax changes, the commission voted 4-1 not to move forward with a major zoning review at this time.
Those in favor were Robert Miller, Dion Woodruff, Debbie McGinley and Jim McLane, while Jill King was opposed. Members Julie White and Mike Amick were absent.
Some commission members indicated interest in doing more targeted updates as needed and meeting more frequently to tackle that work.
Town attorney Bob Bever said as part of his monthly duties for the town, he will spend a few hours reviewing the town’s zoning against current state laws to see what areas might need the most work.
Bever said he’s learned from Accelerate Indiana Municipalities leaders that state lawmakers might revisit the EDIT fund cuts during next year’s legislative session, but nothing is certain.
A version of this article appeared in the July 16 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.