There will be a referendum on the ballot November 4th for Fall Creek Township residents that is worded in a rather confusing manner: “Shall the township withdraw from joinder with the City of Noblesville for planning and zoning purposes?”Here’s a little background:
Back when the Beatles were a new group (1964), Fall Creek Township entered into an agreement with the City of Noblesville giving the city control over zoning in the unincorporated areas of the Township (including the Geist area). This is the joinder agreement.
In 2004 (McCartney still on tour), Noblesville agreed to let the Town of Fishers take over zoning for the area—ostensibly because Fishers was closer (and who knows what else may have gone on behind the scenes). Nonetheless, Fishers was supposed to follow Noblesville’s zoning rules for unincorporated Fall Creek Township, but instead they enforced their own, stricter zoning rules. And, it appears that the joinder agreement was never formally executed.
This year, a number of township residents challenged the issue and were successful in getting a public referendum on the issue so the residents can decide.
A “YES” vote cancels the joinder agreement with Noblesville, which, in turn, cancels Noblesville’s agreement with Fishers—the result is zoning control will go to the county. A “NO” vote allows Fishers to retain zoning control over Fall Creek Township (unincorporated).
Part of the process included the formation of two study committees: one by the Township and one by the Town of Fishers; both had residents from the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the township. The Town’s committee concluded that the zoning should remain with the Town; the Township’s committee—which actually held a public forum on the topic—concluded the zoning should go back to the county.
The decision now lies in the hands of the voters.