OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Columbus Plan Commission Meeting – June 10, 2026: Discussion and Continuances

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, June 10, 2026
BodyColumbus, Indiana
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, June 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:14:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:26

Well actually right now.

1:08

We uh you guys aren't players.

1:30

Right.

1:52

Yeah.

1:57

I was I was out of sleep.

2:12

Yeah.

2:14

Okay.

3:36

Oh shot.

3:42

Okay.

3:56

All righty.

3:58

I would like to call the uh June tenth meeting of the Columbus Planning Commission to order.

4:03

My name is Michael Kinder and I'll serve as our presiding officer this afternoon.

4:06

Um I'd like to remind everyone to be to be sure to use the microphones in speaking so that both everyone in the room and anyone viewing the meeting online can hear us well.

4:14

Commission members, please make sure your microphones are on, not blinking.

4:18

For anyone in the audience who will speak later, we'll ask that when I invite your comments, you come to the microphone like you're in the middle of the aisle right there.

4:24

Um I will ask also ask everyone to silence your cell phones so that we don't disrupt our meeting.

4:30

Uh we'll now have a roll call of commission members starting with the county commissioners.

4:42

Melissa Bagley Planning Department.

4:43

Michael Kinder, appointed by the mayor.

4:45

Laura Garrett, appointed by the mayor.

4:47

Katie Alli Party appointed by the mayor.

4:49

Andrew Becker, City Engineer.

4:51

Um thinking by Follow me County Planning Commission liaison.

4:58

All right.

5:00

And let the minutes reflect the forum of planning commission members is present.

5:03

All right.

5:04

We now have three items in the consent agenda with a minutes from April 8th and May 13th.

5:10

And we also have one uh rezoning.

5:14

Uh the commission votes for all items on the consent agenda with a single uh vote.

5:18

Any commission members or member of the public objects to an item being on the consent agenda?

5:23

We will move that item off the consent agenda and we'll discuss it in more detail under new business.

5:27

Currently, that is uh PC 2609, Jennifer and Wesley Thayer, or request by Jennifer and Wesley Thayer to rezone 0.51 acres from RS1 uh to AP agriculture preferred.

5:38

The property is located at 5140 Bull Run in Columbus Township.

5:41

Are there anybody wishing to remove this off the consent agenda?

5:46

All right.

5:47

Uh are there any corrections to the minutes that were mentioned?

5:51

All right.

5:52

Is there a motion then for the consent agenda?

5:54

For the consent agenda.

5:55

A second.

5:56

Motion made and seconded.

5:57

Any questions on the motion?

5:58

Your motion is to approve.

6:00

Admission is to approve.

6:01

Yeah, I did just say only thank you.

6:04

All right, motion made to approve.

6:06

All in favor say aye.

6:07

Aye.

6:08

Opposed, same sign.

6:09

All right, consent agenda is passed.

6:13

Okay, we'll move on to our first item that is going to be SDP 2618 Columbus Gateway, a proposal by Mid Atlantic properties for site development plan approval to the Columbus Gateway Commercial Development.

6:24

Properties located on the northeast corner of this intersection of state road 46, Johnmore Pike and Interstate 65.

6:30

Um if the applicants are here, um please come forward.

6:33

I believe they're requesting a continuance.

6:36

Correct.

6:36

Okay.

6:46

Uh my name's Aaron Boyle, Midland Atlantic Properties.

6:49

This is Morgan Hyam with Midland Atlantic Properties.

6:51

We are very excited to get started on this project.

6:54

We've been bugging Andrew a lot lately.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████████39%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Zoning And Land Use██████████10%
Public Engagement█████5%
Downtown Development█████5%
Miscellaneous████4%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbus Plan Commission Meeting – June 10, 2026

The Columbus Plan Commission met on June 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The commission approved the consent agenda, continued several items to the July 8 meeting, and engaged in extensive debate over a proposed amendment to the Cummins Parking Garage, ultimately continuing that item as well.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously: Minutes from April 8, 2026, and May 13, 2026.
  • Approved as part of consent: PC-26-09 (Jennifer & Wesley Thayer request to rezone 0.51 acres from RS1 to AP at 5140 Bull Run, Columbus Township). No objections were raised.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tom (public attendee): Expressed concern about the number of driveways proposed on 6th and 7th Streets for the Cummins Parking Garage amendment, arguing that two wider entrances with internal controls would be preferable to multiple curb cuts.
  • Mark Pratt (via letter, Breedon Realtors, across the street): Opposed the additional curb cuts, calling them unprecedented. Commission members noted that other nearby blocks have multiple curb cuts (e.g., Washington Street between 7th and 8th has four), but acknowledged those may be grandfathered.
  • Desiree (Planning Department): Presented staff report on the Cummins Parking Garage request (SDP-26-22), summarizing that Cummins proposes modifying entrances/exits on 6th and 7th Streets to separate Cummins employees from residents and customers of the future Taylor Uptown development, including 75 dedicated parking spots on the first floor.

Discussion Items

  • SDP-26-18: Columbus Gateway (Midland Atlantic Properties): Applicant requested a continuance to the July 8, 2026 meeting, citing ongoing work with staff on waivers. Motion carried unanimously.
  • PC-26-07 (Abundant Home Solutions Annexation) and PC-26-08 (Rezoning): Continued to July 8, 2026 due to an error in public notice; staff noted the requirements were likely still met legally.
  • SDP-26-22: Cummins Parking Garage (Cummins, Inc.): The main discussion item. Mark Peters (TLF Consulting on behalf of Cummins) explained the need for separate entrances/exits to maintain security, operational efficiency, and maintenance separation. Commission members raised concerns:
    • Laura Garrett: Argued the proposal reduces public safety and pedestrian friendliness, creates confusion, and is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan's walkability goals. She moved to deny on grounds that none of the site development criteria (public safety, efficient development, comprehensive plan consistency) were met.
    • Other members (including Andrew Beckort, City Engineer) noted the high number of curb cuts on 7th Street (three driveways close together) and loss of on-street parking on 6th Street.
    • Several members suggested alternative solutions (e.g., internal gating, single wider driveways, making existing entrances double-in/out) and requested Cummins and the residential developer be present to explain the necessity.
    • The applicant confirmed that the request is tied to securing parking contracts for the Taylor Uptown development; if denied, Cummins could still implement internal gating without commission approval.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved (unanimous).
  • Columbus Gateway (SDP-26-18) continued to July 8, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Abundant Home Solutions annexation (PC-26-07) and rezoning (PC-26-08) continued to July 8, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Cummins Parking Garage (SDP-26-22): Motion to deny failed (5 in favor, 1 opposed; 6 votes needed for majority). The applicant then requested a continuance, which was granted (6-0) to the July 8, 2026 meeting. Commission members urged Cummins and the residential developer to attend next month with a revised plan or better justification; several members indicated they would not support any additional curb cuts.

Meeting Transcript

Well actually right now. We uh you guys aren't players. Right. Yeah. I was I was out of sleep. Yeah. Okay. Oh shot. Okay. All righty. I would like to call the uh June tenth meeting of the Columbus Planning Commission to order. My name is Michael Kinder and I'll serve as our presiding officer this afternoon. Um I'd like to remind everyone to be to be sure to use the microphones in speaking so that both everyone in the room and anyone viewing the meeting online can hear us well. Commission members, please make sure your microphones are on, not blinking. For anyone in the audience who will speak later, we'll ask that when I invite your comments, you come to the microphone like you're in the middle of the aisle right there. Um I will ask also ask everyone to silence your cell phones so that we don't disrupt our meeting. Uh we'll now have a roll call of commission members starting with the county commissioners. Melissa Bagley Planning Department. Michael Kinder, appointed by the mayor. Laura Garrett, appointed by the mayor. Katie Alli Party appointed by the mayor. Andrew Becker, City Engineer. Um thinking by Follow me County Planning Commission liaison. All right. And let the minutes reflect the forum of planning commission members is present. All right. We now have three items in the consent agenda with a minutes from April 8th and May 13th. And we also have one uh rezoning. Uh the commission votes for all items on the consent agenda with a single uh vote. Any commission members or member of the public objects to an item being on the consent agenda? We will move that item off the consent agenda and we'll discuss it in more detail under new business. Currently, that is uh PC 2609, Jennifer and Wesley Thayer, or request by Jennifer and Wesley Thayer to rezone 0.51 acres from RS1 uh to AP agriculture preferred. The property is located at 5140 Bull Run in Columbus Township. Are there anybody wishing to remove this off the consent agenda? All right. Uh are there any corrections to the minutes that were mentioned? All right. Is there a motion then for the consent agenda? For the consent agenda. A second. Motion made and seconded. Any questions on the motion? Your motion is to approve. Admission is to approve. Yeah, I did just say only thank you. All right, motion made to approve. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. All right, consent agenda is passed.

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