BANI Newsletter- April 2010

A version of the following article appears in "The Higher Standard," the newsletter for the Builders Association of Northeast Indiana. www.ba-ni.com.

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This article will describe a new GIS feature called “Citizen Input”, describe how to use it, and give an update on sketch plan requirements.

The new Citizen Input feature will allow Steuben County Offices to receive information through the County’s online GIS. We’re excited that this new feature allows us to both share and receive information using the GIS. It is a first step to improved web services, which will include online permitting in the future.

Citizen Input is currently being used by the Plan Commission and Surveyor. Anybody with access to the internet can use the feature for the following activities:

• Report abandoned vehicles,
• Comment on Plan Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals petitions,
• Report unpermitted construction,
• Request a construction inspection,
• Request development restrictions for a property,
• Report environmental nuisances, &
• Report drain tile or ditch problems.

The easiest way to access the Citizen Input feature is to locate the property in question on the GIS. The feature is activated by clicking “Citizen Input” on the left menu bar. Then, follow the instructions below.

1. Select the appropriate Citizen Input layer for your request by clicking on the layer name in the Layers list on the left side of the beacon map interface.

2. Select the Map tab to switch to the map view. (Located on the tab bar immediately below the page header.)

3. Zoom to the location of interest using the map navigation tools.

4. Select the location tool by clicking on the icon. (The tool's background will change to indicate it has been selected.)

5. Click a point on the map to indicate area of interest. (The application will then redirect the user to the input form.)

6. Fill out the form with the appropriate data.

7. Press the submit button. (You will receive confirmation that your submission was successful.)

We anticipate adding new departments and new options to this feature in the future. Let us know if you have any suggestions for improving this service!

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Last month, we announced that sketch plans would have to comply with all the requirements of Chapter 16 of the Steuben County Zoning Ordinance starting on April 5, 2010.

We have decided to delay that by two weeks until Monday, April 19, 2010. (Of course, we will accept sketch plans that fully comply before that date.)

This was done because development of the sample sketch plan took longer than anticipated, and we wanted to allow enough time for applicants to make adjustments. The sample sketch plan is now available on the Plan Commission blog and as handouts in the Office.