Comprehensive Plan - Planning Department

Comprehensive Plan
Town of Ellettsville, Indiana
Adopted by Resolution
February 25, 2002
Updated by Resolution
May 29, 2007
Acknowledgements
The Ellettsville community acknowledges the role many civic leaders played in the development
of this Comprehensive Plan. It is hoped that the planning process during 2001 will create the
blueprint for quality of growth based on wise and careful land use for the entire 20 year horizon
of this plan.
Groups to be commended:
The Ellettsville Plan Commission
The Ellettsville Town Council
The Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce
The Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan Working Group
The Monroe County Planning Staff
Individuals to be commended:
Jerry Pittsford
Lisa Farkas
Mike Cornman
Jeana Kapczynski
Darlyne Sowder
David Drake
Sandy Hash
Dave Sorokoty
Geraldine McIntyre
Cullen McCarty
Kevin Faris
Rick Coppick
Greg Zody
Bill Williams
Special tribute to:
Maurice Endwright
Bill Land, AICP
Lotus Planning Services
2007 Updates:
Frank Nierzwicki, Director of Planning Services
Ashley Porta, Intern—Indiana University Graduate Student
Ellettsville
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Index to the Comprehensive Plan
1. Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan of Ellettsville
……………...4
2. Reasons for having a Comprehensive Plan?
……………...5
3. Replacement of the 1963 Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan
……………...6
4. Features of the1963 Comprehensive Plan features
……………...7
5. History of a Proud Community: Ellettsville over time
……………...9
6. The Geography of Ellettsville
……………...12
7. Framework for the principle policies
……………...17
8. Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan 2001 priorities
……………...19
9. Principle Comprehensive Plan policies for the Town of Ellettsville ……………...20
10. Land use recommendations for Ellettsville
……………...25
11. Key land use recommendations
……………...26
12. Color zoning map of the Ellettsville area
……………...30
13. Use of the zoning code to implement the Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan
Policies
……………...31
14. Monroe County transportation planning related to Ellettsville
……………...32
15. Ellettsville-vision for the year 2020 ……………...34
16. Images of Ellettsville
……………...35
17. Glossary of planning terms
……………...39
18. Ideas from the Ellettsville public meeting 8/14/01
……………...40
19. Ellettsville- vision 2020 breakout groups
……………...41
20. Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan Public Survey Results
……………...42
21. Town of Ellettsville – population data – 2000
……………...44
22. 2000 census demographics for Ellettsville
……………...45
23. Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan general land use map
……………...56
24. Results of the 2006 resident survey
……………...57
25. Thoroughfare plan
……………...60
Ellettsville
3
Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan of Ellettsville
Planning is positive.
It’s what a
community does when it cares about
fostering the quality of life for its
citizens.
It is of prime importance for Ellettsville
to be in control of the Town’s destiny.
In the spirit of “owning it’s future”,
citizens
of
Ellettsville
with
a
commitment to civic understanding and
progress have spent long hours working
with a planning professional to craft the
policies that form the blueprint for future
governmental capital spending and
future ordinances included in this
document.
Over 90 local residents answered the 15question land use survey, 25 to 35
citizens came to the three public
meetings, and over 25 civic leaders met
with the professional planner for tours
and interviews. In short, citizen input
drove the substance of this plan.
The state mandates that communities
with
zoning
ordinances
have
comprehensive plans.
State and
foundation funding depend on a basic
general
plan to
support grant
applications.
Zoning hearings use
compliance with the Comprehensive
Plan in decision-making.
Outside
development interests with high impact
land uses can take advantage of
communities
with
obsolete
Comprehensive Plans. It is therefore
clear that a good plan can bring
numerous benefits.
The state requires all Comprehensive
Plans to contain the following elements:
Ellettsville
1. A statement of objectives for the
future
development
of
the
jurisdiction
2. A statement of policy for the land
use development of the jurisdiction.
3. A statement of policy for development
of public ways, public places, public
structures, and public utilities. Legally
adopted plans carefully place numerous
policy statements within the text of the
plan in order to satisfy Indiana state
guidelines.
Along with the fundamental plan
policies, a framework of geography and
history set the space/time context for the
community. The plan also includes
current demographics and population
projections. Supplemental to the plan
are pages of survey results and public
feedback statements for reference.
Photos also supplement the text. The
2007 updated version includes results
from a 2006 survey and a copy of the
recently approved thoroughfare plan.
Finally, it is important to note that the
plan is general and not lot or parcel
specific. The time horizon is a twentyyear planning period. Over time the
community must build on its strength
and resolve growth problems resolutely
to benefit the whole of the
interconnected web of the town’s built
environment.
The plan is not a
regulatory tool but it can create
standards that will be referred to during
the developing of new ordinances. The
plan must be updated from time to time
by a formal two-year review followed by
amendments. Critical sub areas within
the community will need detailed plans
developed over time.
4
Why a Comprehensive Plan?
Community decides its own future
To provide a future vision for the community
To set a priority of land use goals for the community
Promote orderly growth
Protect public health and safety
Protect property rights and enhance property values
Provide for adequate public facilities and services
Provide for economic growth
Provide framework for allocation of financial and other resources
Plans do not make long standing problems disappear
Plans do not solve all problems
Plans do not regulate land use
Plans do not focus on parcel specific solutions
Plans do not succeed without political commitment
*co-Source: Teree Bergman, FAICP
Ellettsville
5
Replacement of the 1963 Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan
The 1963 Comprehensive Plan shows a
significantly different picture of land use
compared to the turn of the century
scene. With drastic changes in the Town
of Ellettsville came the need to update
the Comprehensive Plan.
The impression in 1963 was a large town
thriving on local industry with a
downtown economy built on resident
shopping. The concentrated population
would have work, schools, and shopping
close at hand. Little growth east of
Jack’s Defeat Creek was projected.
In 1963 it was hard to predict the
decentralization of homes and shopping
as well as the overwhelming change
brought on by the use of the private
automobile.
Driving several miles for all services
seemed to be unreasonable in 1963. The
plan attempted to project each large
subdivision having a complete set of
services including churches, schools, and
shopping.
Even in 1963 an alternative to State
State Road 46 was envisioned. The
bypass would be in the area of Maple
Grove Road north of town.
Since 1963 the commercial focus has
been on strip commercial development
Ellettsville
East along State State Road 46 to Smith
Road to serve vehicular traffic.
Shopping centers with larger parking
lots have also developed with the role of
serving daily shopping needs. Most
weekly shopping trips are made to larger
commercial developments in the
Bloomington area.
The industry
potential focused on in the 1963 plan
never developed; the neighborhood
serving businesses in the downtown
have diminished. Housing projects have
created urban sprawl in the outskirts of
Ellettsville with a disconnection of one
subdivision from another. The urban
pattern became cul-de-sac dwellers
feeding the commuter stream to
somewhere else. The focus was on
decentralization; loss of a central
community was the result.
A centerpiece of the new plan must be to
refocus the identity of residents back to
downtown Ellettsville and develop
policies that promote centralized policies
over decentralization.
The 1963 Comprehensive Plan is clearly
obsolete and can no longer guide land
use decisions. Every effort must be
made to keep the new plan up to date by
commissioning detailed sub area plans
and having a formal Comprehensive
Plan review session by the Ellettsville
Plan Commission every two years.
6
17 highlights of the 1963 Comprehensive Plan:
Features:
1. Problems and assets of small towns
2. Jack’s Defeat Creek and the railroad as a barrier to development
3. Problems with the early platting of town lots and grid which was too compact
4. Focus on hierarchy of functional types of streets
5. Population increase was 42.9% from 1950-1960
6. Population in 1960 is 1,222
7. 49.1% total land use is composed of streets and alleys
8. Commercial space is 4.5% of total land
9. Resident shopping is within town and tourist shopping is found along State State Road 46
10. Industrial land use total 1.4%- with more industry to be build along the railroad in the
future
11. Schools, parks and church land total is 13%
12. Vacant land is 27.5% of total land
13. Plan envisions huge neighborhoods each with a church, commercial shopping,
elementary School and a major park in the center of each neighborhood area
14. Recommends transition areas between Industrial and other land uses
15. Recommends a State State Road 46 by pass along Maple Grove Road north of the
community
16. Recommends a north/south State Highway bypass along Union Valley Road
17. Implementation focus is on funding concepts and developer contributions
Ellettsville
7
Progress on the 1963 Comprehensive Plan Highlights
as of May 2007
1. Problems and assets of a small town still persist in Ellettsville
2. Jack’s Defeat Creek and the abandoned rail line are now seen as positives for future
economic development
3. Ellettsville is still constrained by the early platting of the Town; new thoroughfare plan
should assist future development
4. Focus on hierarchy of functional types of streets remains; coordination with Monroe
County Planning Department concerning future growth
5. Population increase was 333.7% from 1960 to 2005, an annual growth rate of 7.41%.
6. Ellettsville’s population in 2005 was 5,300
7. In 2007 the Town had 24 miles of local streets to maintain.
8. Commercial space is approximately 10% of total land area; most of the commercial space
is located along State Road 46.
9. Resident shopping is mainly centered in Bloomington
10. Industrial land use is less than 1% of total land area, more light industrial land may
become available on the west side of Town in the future.
11. Schools, parks, and church lands are less than 10% of total land
12. Vacant land is approximately 500 acres in total area.
13. Ellettsville has developed several mid-sized new housing developments over the past few
years. Commercial shopping and small business development is slated for the Heritage
Crossing Redevelopment Area over the next 10 years
14. The amount of land dedicated for industrial has been reduced keeping in step with
national trends; a light industrial or business park could be established on the west side of
Town
15. The State Road 46 project is now complete through Town giving excellent access to
Bloomington
16. The Union Valley Road improvements are slated to be completed within the next 10-15
years according to area transportation plans
17. Implementation focus is on funding concepts and developer contributions; additional
revenue streams could be achieved from the new redevelopment area through Tax
Increment Financing (TIF)
Ellettsville
8
History of a proud community: Ellettsville over time
The town of Ellettsville, Indiana officially
incorporated in 1866 as it was known since
1837 as the town of Richland. When local
business owner Edward Ellett became the
namesake of town, Ellettsville was still a
typical Indiana small town.
Early
Ellettsville had the usual stores including a
blacksmith’s shop, sawmill, tavern, general
store, gristmill on Jack’s Defeat Creek, and
a post office.
Limestone quarrying north of the
community was established in 1862 by John
Matthews. The limestone business became
the cornerstone of early business, trade, and
transport into the community. The New
Albany and Salem railroad tracks were
extended to the community. The railroad
tracks laid in 1853 provided access for the
milled stone.
The primary early transportation route was a
wagon trail northwest from Bloomington
along what is now State State Road 46 to the
turn off to the quarry area along what is now
Sale Street.
The original 14 town lots with short blocks
and streets intersecting at right angles were
platted in 1837. An additional 17 more lots
were added in 1883.
In the 1870’s more businesses such as a
hotel and clothing store were added. The
population swelled to over 500 persons with
work provided in the stone mill and a
woodworking-planning mill.
A wagon
works in 1886 took up an entire street block.
Several beautiful churches and fraternal
orders were established. Ellettsville became
known as a church community. Local
limestone was used around the turn of the
century to establish significant building
structures in the community. The most
Ellettsville
notable of these is the Matthews mansion on
Maple Grove Road which is still impressive
over 140 years later.
Electrification came into the community in
1916 and a water system in 1927. The
limestone building that now is used as the
town hall was built as a bank in 1927.
Limestone milled near Ellettsville was used
in the construction in the large urban centers
of the east. Stone from Ellettsville built the
Washington Cathedral in the nation’s
capital.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s set
business back in the community and the rate
of growth slowed. The recorded population
in 1940 was only 863 and for 1950, the
population had shrunk to 855 persons.
During the decade of the 1960’s the town
and surrounding area felt the impact of
meeting the housing needs for the
employees working in an expanding
industrial area west of Bloomington. One
industry, Cook Inc., a developer of medical
devices, established several plants in the
area including a facility in Ellettsville built
in 1963. The sixties also saw a new 10-inch
water line built to service the community.
In 1961 a sewer plant was built and natural
gas lines were established.
Many
individuals began to commute to work from
the residential suburban style homes
developed near Ellettsville. Commuting to
Bloomington, Indianapolis and Crane Naval
Weapons Center became more popular. The
Ellettsville population escalated to 1,222 in
1960 and to over 1,600 in 1970.
The lack of adequate sanitary and storm
water sewer service slowed growth during
the late 70’s resulting in a ban on new
9
housing construction that lasted until 1986.
In 1986, Kelli Heights Addition obtained 56
sewer connection permits and growth was
off and running again. The year also saw
the development of the nursing home called
the Richland-Bean Blossom Health Center
on State State Road 46.
Additional rapid population growth soon
passed 3,000 people before 1990. The
settlement
pattern
became
more
decentralized, losing the once compact
community to the convenience of the the
automobile.
Commercial investment
became a highway orientated strip
development with feeder subdivisions and
numerous cul-de-sacs. State State Road 46
became crowded with traffic. The highway
congestion classed the highway as one of the
most crowded two lane highways in the state
of Indiana.
Then came the plans for a bypass highway.
The Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan of
1963 suggested a route along Maple Grove
Road north of the community. Monroe
County transportation planning began to
research a route near Woodyard Road south
of Ellettsville.
Finally, the impossible construction
problems across old quarry land near the
State Highway 37 Bloomington bypass were
solved and the new State State Road 46
route was designated. The new highway
would go right through the heart of the
community as a one-way pair.
Rounding out the end of the century
Ellettsville continued to be known as a good
place to raise a family. Provisions for a
quality
family
life
included
the
establishment in 1966 and continuation of
the independent Richland-Bean Blossom
School system. The school system has 2
elementary schools a middle school and a
Ellettsville
high school. For advance education Ivy
Tech state college is nearby.
As place for families, Ellettsville is now
well supported by modest cost housing
opportunities and the improved shopping
west of Bloomington.
The Town is
protected by a paid full time and part time
fire and police department supplemented
with a volunteer force.
Civic pride abounds within the community
with examples such as the Endwright Center
of Senior Citizens and a well attended Fall
Festival.
The biggest event on the horizon of change
is the new highway. With the route design
completed, construction began on a new
four-lane state of the art highway with an
additional turn lane in the middle. The
highway, built from the east in 2001, is
headed toward the old downtown business
district of historical Ellettsville. Two broad
highway lanes on the north side of the
community will run one-way west and two
lanes on the south side will run east. The
downtown,
which
is
primed
for
revitalization, now seems to be stretched
between a sea of one-way pairs.
If
experience is a guide, the traffic will be
steady and fast and the island downtown
will have to be a target of well planned and
carefully sited investment to create and
maintain the vitality the community
envisions.
Great change, it has been said, yields great
opportunity. Ellettsville finds itself at the
commitment crossroads where good
planning will be most helpful.
The continuum of time has reached this
point in time to focus on a beautiful, vital,
economically successful and truly livable
heart of the Ellettsville community. The
central part of the town must inspire price, a
10
pride that ripples out for miles around
helping to set the tone for residential quality
Ellettsville
for all the community residents.
11
The Geography of Ellettsville
They physical geography of Ellettsville is
related to its location in the rolling uplands
and the limestone Mitchell Plain of southern
Indiana. The area is captured by thin clay
soils that are easily eroded. Much of the
surrounding area is open marginal farm
group with intermittent woodlots of mixed
deciduous hardwoods of second growth
forest trees.
Limestone forms the geologic foundation of
the area including significant commercial
deposits of dimension limestone for use in
the local façade construction and for export.
The limestone has not caused extreme
subterranean cavity formation; therefore,
groundwater flow is relatively predictable
for an area of karst topography. Shallow
deposits of stone have, however, interfered
with building excavation.
The town of Ellettsville is surrounded by
moderately sloping hillsides in the almost
6,000 acre drainage basin of Jack’s Defeat
Creek that is a tributary of the White River.
The lowland is subject to sever flooding,
which limits the number of prime
construction sites near the downtown.
Important to the environment of the
downtown area is Jack’s Defeat Creek. The
creek has suffered impacts throughout its
course and is prime for restoration of both
water and bank quality. Enhancements
throughout the entire flow area of the creek
will have a very positive quality of life and
economic return for the community.
The following aerial photograph shows the
landscape of the Ellettsville geographical
area. Human impacts lace the terrain. The
bending line in the lower part of the photo is
the old rail track. Single-family homes line
up along country roads and create large lot
Ellettsville
scattered site development. Subdivisions
with street trees are seen with a concentrated
street pattern. Crossing diagonally ESE to
WNW across the photo is the highway
corridor and strip commercial area of State
State Road 46.
The Ellettsville downtown area is in the
extreme upper left corner of the photo. To
the north, with more rolling ground, there is
a larger concentration of forest cover.
The network of county roads along with
State State Road 46 link Ellettsville with the
city of Spender to the west and Bloomington
to the east. These two cities are both within
a 15-minute drive of Ellettsville. From
Spencer or Bloomington, it is an easy onehour drive to the Indianapolis Metropolitan
Area.
Easy access is a major feature of the location
of Ellettsville. Indiana University, a Big
Ten University, is in nearby Bloomington.
Ellettsville is also within a 30 minute drive
to two state parks and the Monroe Reservoir,
the largest lake in the state.
Transportation via light air craft is easy;
Ellettsville is 10 to 15 minutes from the
Monroe County Airport. The Indianapolis
International airport is a little more than an
hour away.
By 2050, Interstate 69 from the Indianapolis
area to Evansville is likely to be constructed.
Several preferred routes are within a 20minute drive to connect with Ellettsville via
State State Road 46. The Interstate highway
will focus a real investment interest within
its corridor, which will affect Ellettsville
economically well into the future.
12
Town of Ellettsville Aerial View
Ellettsville
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Ellettsville Downtown Aerial View
Ellettsville Zoning
Ellettsville
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GIS Map of Ellettsville
by PlexisGroup ©
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Ellettsville Town Map
Ellettsville
16
Framework for the Principle
Polices
6. Employment: Work is honorable;
well-paid secure work is a basic
need.
The process used for developing the
following policies included the citizen
committee that worked with the professional
planner. The committee selected 18 policy
areas and weighted each area by priority
related to Ellettsville. The last large public
meeting covered all of the policies in detail
and created public input now reflected in the
wording of the policies. The Ellettsville
Plan Commission also reviewed each policy
area and suggested changes.
7. Commercial: A diversity of services
and products should be available
close to home.
The following policies have numbered
statements that are not in any particular
order. Occasionally similar statements will
appear in other sections of the policies, but
these were left in for emphasis.
The keys to understanding each policy area:
1. Infrastructure
and
Utilities:
Ellettsville realizes its quality of life
depends on first class affordable
infrastructure and utility service.
2. Tax Base: A government with
adequate funding can provide
services for health, safety and
welfare to which the residents are
entitled.
8. Traffic and Transportation: Citizens
need an efficient and safe traffic and
transportation
system.
Transportation shuttles for an older
population will be a necessity.
9. Signs: Signs should advertise and
inform without cluttering the visual
landscape.
10. Schools: Children represent the
future; investing love, energy and
money in the future is a community
obligation.
11. Town Lighting: Let the sun
illuminate the quality of community
by day; the community will
illuminate the quality by night.
12. Safety, Fire and Police: Citizens are
most productive when they feel safe.
13. Tourism: As pride of investment in
town grows, it should be shown off
to others.
3. Conserving Community Character:
By conserving the finest of the past,
a community lays the groundwork
for quality in the future.
14. Environmental and Trees: A
commitment to our environment and
our trees is a commitment to our own
personal health.
4. Water Drainage: Flooding limits
investment and creates unexpected
costs to residents.
15. Parks and recreation. Residents need
to have quality spaces to express
themselves with joy.
5. Industry: Industrial growth will
support job creation close to home.
16. Housing: A stable community
promotes the sense of home place
Ellettsville
17
and a place to put down roots.
Quality home environments are
critical to a successful community.
17. Public Facilities: The buildings that
belong to all of us should be a source
of pride.
18. Historical Preservation: Care for the
future depends on care for the past.
Ellettsville
18
Ellettsville Comprehensive Plan 2001 Priorities
Infrastructure and Utilities
Tax Base
Conserving Community Character
Water Drainage
Industry
Employment
Commercial
Transportation and Traffic Plan
Signs
Schools
Town Lighting
Safety
Fire and Police
Tourism
Environmental Issues
Parks
Trees and Landscaping
Recreation
Housing
Public Facilities
Historical Preservation
Natural Hazards
Light Farming
Pedestrian Access
Home Occupations
Ellettsville
19
Principle Comprehensive Plan policies for the Town of
Ellettsville:
Infrastructure and Utilities
1. Whenever possible and practical,
utilities should be placed
underground.
2. Ensure
that
infrastructure
capability to serve new sites
precedes development.
3. An infrastructure and utility
capital plan for improvements
should be revised and updated
every five years.
4. Cooperate with Monroe County
infrastructure plans for the area.
5. Cooperate with nearby counties,
towns, and cities on a regional
basis concerning infrastructure
plans.
6. Seek to ensure a safe and
dependable public water supply.
7. Promote
a
first
class
communication infrastructure to
aid communication dependent
high tech development.
8. Coordinate with the postal
service on the standardization of
zip codes within Ellettsville.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Tax Base
1. Annex
areas
adjacent
to
3. Encourage development that
Ellettsville that could contribute
utilizes, and is compatible with,
to an improved tax base.
existing infrastructure.
2. Work to attract higher dollar
4. Explore ways of increasing
investment to aid the tax base
public capital through grants, tax
with special emphasis on
increment financing and impact
commercial and light industrial
fees.
investment.
______________________________________________________________________________
Conserving Community Character
1. Encourage the promotion of
small town character.
2. Encourage continuance and
expansion of events such as the
Fall Festival.
3. Identify structurally sound older
buildings and develop a plan for
preservation and restoration.
4. Encourage more opportunities
for pedestrian walking areas.
5. Support affiliation with local,
state and national groups such as
Main Street USA and Tree City
USA.
6. Encourage adaptive reuse of
structurally
sound
existing
buildings.
__________________________________________________________________
Water Drainage
1. New development shall be
required to provide and maintain
100-year flood event storm water
retention to aid in the mitigation
Ellettsville
of floodwaters. Projects must
meet current design standards,
including safety and appearance.
20
2. A public storm water detention
4. Seek to establish grassed swales
area should be developed using
and good vegetative cover to
grant funds to reduce the risk of
slow and filter runoff.
floods in the future.
5. Study the development of small
3. Cooperate with the Monroe
community lakes for the purpose
County Drainage Board.
of flood control and recreation.
______________________________________________________________________________
Industry
1. Areas west of Ellettsville should
3. The zoning code shall prohibit
be identified and zoned for light
heavy industries that would
industry in coordination with
likely create a known health or
Monroe County Planning.
explosive hazard for nearby
2. New industrial development will
residents.
be required to provide an
4. In order to attract industry an
adequate transition area or buffer
industrial TIF district should be
if the development is adjacent to
created west of Ellettsville.
residential land uses.
______________________________________________________________________________
Employment
1. Seek to increase higher wage
employment opportunities for
Ellettsville residents.
2. Encourage
workforce-training
opportunities.
3. Encourage a business incubator
to promote small business and
aid local employment.
4. Cooperate with local universities
and colleges to provide easy
access to training and schooling
programs.
______________________________________________________________________________
Commercial
1. Encourage
pedestrian
style
east of Ellettsville, with access
commercial development along
management to increase safety.
and between the one-way pair of
3. Encourage
commercial
State Road 46 with special
development west of Ellettsville
attention to Sale and Vine streets.
that would be sited in a cluster
2. Encourage continued vehicle
pattern planned with one primary
orientated
commercial
entrance served by a frontage
investment along State Road 46
road.
______________________________________________________________________________
Transportation and Traffic Plan
1. Implement safe access at streets
intersecting State Road 46.
2. Implement a traffic plan that
promotes business and protects
neighborhoods.
3. Coordinate transportation and
traffic plans with the Monroe
Ellettsville
County’s long-range plans for
transportation and traffic.
4. Establish pedestrian and bicycle
pathways to connect downtown
Ellettsville with schools and
parks
including
Flatwoods
County Park west of Ellettsville.
21
5. Establish a long-range plan for
street, road and sidewalk
construction and maintenance.
6. Support the Heritage Trail
development using the old rail
beds as a linear pedestrian
pathway.
______________________________________________________________________________
Signs
1. Support the continuance of a sign
business and improves the visual
ordinance that helps promote
appeal of Ellettsville.
______________________________________________________________________________
Schools
1. Provide
safe
streets
and
sidewalks close to school areas.
2. Ellettsville and the school system
should mutually cooperate on
projects and use of facilities.
3. Seek to establish additional
educational
and
training
opportunities
within
the
community such as community
college or vocational technical
classes.
__________________________________________________________________
Town Lighting
1. Town lighting should enhance
2. Seek to avoid glare and light
safety
and
the
nighttime
pollution from new development.
attractiveness of Ellettsville.
______________________________________________________________________________
Safety, Fire and Police
1. Install emergency phones in key
cooperation between departments
locations within Ellettsville.
providing emergency services in
2. Enhance pedestrian safety at
Ellettsville.
street corners.
5. Promote neighborhood watch
3. Be proactive when training and
programs
providing equipment for the
6. Seek
grants
to
enhance
police and fire department.
emergency services.
4. Establish land use regulations
7. Continue
and
encourage
that provide easy access for
programs
dealing
with
emergency vehicles. Encourage
emergency preparedness.
______________________________________________________________________________
Tourism
1. Promote
heritage
tourism
focusing on carving and building
with limestone.
2. Encourage the establishment of
several bed and breakfasts or
inns to accommodate tourists.
3. Redevelop Sale and Vine streets
as well as nearby street fronts to
attract tourist shopping.
Ellettsville
4. Encourage events and small
festivals in Ellettsville on a year
round basis.
5. Cooperate with other state,
county and local organizations
that promote regional tourism.
22
__________________________________________________________________
Environmental Issues and Trees
1. Improve
the
environmental
quality of Jack’s Defeat Creek.
2. Work toward a Tree City USA
status for Ellettsville.
3. Identify locations of point source
air pollution and develop a
reduction plan to curtail the
pollution.
4. Require a percentage of area in
new housing developments be
kept as green space.
5. Encourage the planting of shade
trees in all new developments.
6. Seek funding to enhance
environmental
quality
and
protect sensitive environments.
__________________________________________________________________
Parks and Recreation
1. Provide walking and bicycling
trails to the parks.
2. Establish parkland use within
floodplain areas.
3. Explore establishing impact fees
to be paid by the developer for
the purchase, development, and
maintenance of neighborhood
public parks.
4. Coordinate recreational plans
with Monroe County Parks and
Recreation.
5. Encourage
new
indoor
recreational and health facilities.
6. Provide for a wide range of
family recreational opportunities.
7. New developments should be
encouraged to set aside land for
the establishment of parks for
their residents.
______________________________________________________________________________
Housing
1. Seek grants for remodeling and
renovation of existing housing.
2. Encourage a diverse mix of
housing
values
within
neighborhoods.
3. Encourage the clustering of
homes in new subdivisions to
protect
sensitive
natural
environments, such as groves of
mature shade trees or creeks.
4. Encourage greater density of
housing built within a mile radius
of downtown Ellettsville.
5. Develop policies that reduce and
counter urban sprawl.
6. Encourage
housing
within
walking or bicycle distance of
the local schools.
______________________________________________________________________________
Public Facilities
1. Keep
government
facilities
downtown and central to the
Ellettsville population.
2. Seek grants and funding for the
expansion of public facilities
Ellettsville
3. Develop and maintain restrooms for
tourists visiting the downtown area
of Ellettsville.
23
4. Provide adequate public parking
areas that do not take up prime retail
commercial development space.
5. Promote public art featuring
limestone carvings.
6. Promote pedestrian friendly sidewalk
areas within the downtown area
including tree plots, attractive street
lighting, and benches.
__________________________________________________________________
Historical Preservation
1. Protect historical limestone homes,
churches, and commercial buildings
by creating a historical zone
designation.
2. Focus tourism and festivals on the
historical limestone heritage.
Ellettsville
3. Encourage the identification and
renovation of structurally sound
historical structures.
4. Encourage new infill development to
be designed and built in a compatible
way when adjacent to a historical
structure.
24
Land Use Recommendations for Ellettsville
There are three considerations for good land
use planning: compatibility, value and
image.
Ellettsville should measure each and every
one of the land use recommendations on the
basis of these three considerations.
Simply put, does each and every lot in town
or parcel of land near town have utilization
compatible with its neighbor? If not, is
there sufficient natural buffering or fencing
to screen the land use difference? Is each
land use the highest and best land use
possible given the present market
Ellettsville
economics? If what way can Ellettsville
land parcels attract additional investment?
What needs to be done to upgrade the value
of surrounding property? Finally, what kind
of image does the visual scene portray?
Does the built environment give a good first
impression and an “I welcome another trip
to Ellettsville” lasting impression?
What follows is a list of 20 key land use
recommendations featuring enhancements
with a focus on compatibility, value and
image. The list blends good planning
principles with insights taken from
interviews and field tours.
25
Key Land Use Recommendations
1. Where homes are close to the
downtown commercial area (west of
Matthews) or close to the state State
Road 46 one-way pair, allow low
impact commercial enterprises to be
established. Examples would be:
bed and breakfasts, antique shops
and professional offices with off
street parking provided at one space
per 400 sq. Ft. of usable floor space.
2. Provide a linear pathway/parkway
from the Limestone Heritage Trail
east of the downtown to the area of
the school complex.
The route
would continue beyond to the old
well field and woods area owned by
the Town of Ellettsville then to the
Flatwoods County Park west of the
community.
3. Realign Vine Street approximately
30 feet to the north to allow retail
first floor and residential second
floor uses to be constructed on the
south side of Vine Street.
Reconstruction and fronting both
sides of Vine Street should be
implemented between 2010 and
2015.
4. Develop a Town Government Center
west of Sale Street along Main Street
within a park like setting.
5. Develop small lakes in the flood
plain areas of the Jack’s Defeat
Creek watershed including the low
areas near the existing town park.
Each small lake should be built
within a park like setting.
6. Encourage new subdivisions to
provide additional amenities for their
residents using a density bonus as an
incentive.
7. Adopt a traffic management plan to
improve vehicle safety at exit and
Ellettsville
entry points along the new state State
Road 46 route.
8. Develop a detailed plan for each lot
within
the
one-way
pair
configuration, which encourages a
coordinated pattern of commercial
uses based on tourist and town
residents wishing to shop. Exclude
uses such as: open sale lots of
equipment, car or truck repair,
general warehousing and storage.
The idea is to reduce land uses which
would detract from the retail focus
within the shopping area.
9. Develop angled parking with a
landscaped tree and picnic area for
over 200 linear feet along Jack’s
Defeat Creek near the area of the old
concrete plant north of Vine Street.
10. Change the public parking lot space
to retail along the east side of Sale
Street. Use the parking lot to help
leverage
funding
for
new
construction of quality storefronts
and second floor apartments in the
heart of downtown.
11. Seek to move the existing post office
to an area with better vehicle access
and parking.
12. Redevelop key intersections with
flowerbeds and limestone features.
13. Buffer pedestrians from traffic with
tree islands that give a sense of
safety when walking.
14. Reduce off street parking areas that
are in front of the frontage line of
buildings.
15. Feature limestone for public art and
buffer walls; offer incentives for
using limestone for building
improvements.
16. Restore and protect historically
significant limestone buildings in
Ellettsville.
26
17. Improve commercial signs by having
the sign size fit the scale of building
and give incentives for the use of
natural materials.
18. Large developments west of
Ellettsville in the hundred-home
range should include a neighborhood
serving retail complex near the
Ellettsville
development entrance to the
highway.
19. After a detail study, land that is
considered to be best for prime retail
commercial development should be
pre-zoned.
20. Encourage early development of the
Limestone Heritage Trail and links
to other County sites.
27
ELLETTSVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
GENERAL USE MAP
PUBLIC SPACE: purple/rose color
Future community use of the elementary
school area, public library and new town
hall.
CORE COMMERCIAL: light red/tan
color Blocks near the downtown and
adjacent to the State Highway one-way
pair. Land use focus is on a mix of
residential, low impact business and
pedestrian orientated business.
PARK: green color Areas along the old
rail bed (Limestone Heritage Trail) as
well as the flood prone areas close to
Jack’s Defeat Creek
SCHOOL: purple/dark blue color Areas
used by the school system or subject to
future school use
MULTIFAMILY: brown color Area
used for multifamily apartments. Other
apartments may be found in the
commercial areas. Duplexes may be
Ellettsville
found on limited sites within the small
lot residential areas.
SMALL LOT RESIDENTIAL: yellow
color Area of platted subdivision lots
and cul-de-sacs usually less than 4 lots
per acre.
LARGE LOT RESIDENTIAL: white
color Parcel outlines in light gray. Some
parcels have estate homes, original
homesteads, or undeveloped land.
Recreational uses over 5 acres should be
encouraged.
Development at lower
density and or cluster subdivisions
would counter sprawl.
HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL: red color.
Commercial lots developed along the 4
lane State State Road 46. Grouping of
stores with one entrance to reduce strip
commercial should be a goal. Highway
access control to increase safety should
be a priority.
28
Ellettsville
29
Use of the Zoning Code to Implement the Ellettsville Comprehensive
Plan Policies:
The existing zoning code and zoning map
will be revised immediately upon formal
adoption of the Comprehensive Plan.
Detailed review with a working committee
and a professional planner must start with an
understanding of where the present zoning
code is working for the interest of the
community and where the code is weak.
Once identified the changes should be
structured with guidance from similar
communities. Comparative codes must be
studied in detail in order to modernize the
zoning code for Ellettsville.
With
the
background
code
work
accomplished new insights and policies
from the new Comprehensive Plan will need
to be integrated with the zoning code. This
will begin to improve land use, land use
context, and the built environment of the
town of Ellettsville.
Examples of important policies and land use
recommendations, which may be considered
when revising the zoning code:
1. Whenever possible and practical,
utilities
should
be
placed
underground.
2. Encourage set backs, lot sizes,
height, bulk and density of new
buildings which promote a sense of
small town character.
3. Storm water control must meet the
new state standards.
4. Control off site sediment deposits
and erosion control shall conform to
“best management practices”.
5. Light industry zoning with a TIF
district should be developed west of
Ellettsville.
6. Provision for detailed site planning
and buffer planning for nonresidential projects will be critical.
Ellettsville
7. Zoning
shall
prohibit
heavy
industries that would likely create a
known health or explosive hazard.
8. Commercial store clusters shall have
one primary entrance.
9. Make provisions for linear pathway
trails which link parks.
10. Revise the sign ordinance to be more
protective of the community
character by encouraging sign sizes
appropriate to the scale of the
buildings in the area, and encourage
the use of natural materials and noninternal lighting.
11. Seek to avoid glare and light
pollution from new development.
12. All development should maximize
access for emergency vehicles.
13. In the older core of downtown
Ellettsville should permit Bed and
breakfasts, art studios, antique shops
and personal offices which promote
and continue the neighborhood
character.
14. Maximize green space, resident park
areas and shade trees in new housing
developments.
15. Restrict areas within the 100-year
flood plain hazard area to parkland
use.
16. Implement
impact
fees
for
neighborhood parks.
17. Establish lower density housing
zones beyond a one-mile radius of
Ellettsville.
18. Focus on infill development and
reduce “leap frog” developments.
19. Protect historical limestone homes,
churches, and commercial buildings
by creating a historical zone
designation.
30
20. New buildings constructed next to an
historical structure should be
compatible.
21. Lots within the one-way highway
pairs should discourage open sales
lots, storage and warehousing, car or
truck repair or other uses which
conflict with pedestrian retail
shopping.
22. Access management to reduce
multiple entrances to the new State
State Road 46 must be implemented.
Ellettsville
23. It will be mandatory to control
pollution from entering streams by
stopping unclean discharges of storm
water at or near their source.
24. Tree preservation of significant
shade trees and encouraging the
planting of new shade trees will
along way to enhance the
environmental quality of the
community.
25. Soil erosion control measures should
be carefully planned, implemented
and monitored.
31
TRAFFIC COUNT INFORMATION
ROAD NAME
AVERAGE
DAILY
TRAFFIC COURT
TRAFFIC (ADT)
PERCENT OF
TRUCK
TRAFFIC
Hartstrait Road
1 mile south of SR 46
4,207
6.10%
12/3/2001
Louden Road
225
5% (est)
12/21/1994
McNeely Street
.5 mile south of Ratliff Road
6000' west of Union Valley
Road
1,715
4.50%
12/3/2001
Red Hill Road
1,300' north of SR 46
900
5% (est)
6/2/1998
Reeves Road
1,379
9.50%
10/29/2001
Smith Pike
1,700' west of Starnes Road
200' north of Forrest Park
Drive
8,711
7%
5/18/2000
State Road 46
by West Maple Grove Road
16,200
6/21/1905
State Road 46
by Smith Pike
1/2 mile south of Reeves
Road
20,300
6/21/1905
700
5% (est)
9/25/1997
2,540' south of Ratliff Road
1,581
15.70%
12/3/2001
75' north of Lost Man's Lane
1600' west of Matthews
Drive
5,652
5% (est)
6/14/1999
777
6.70%
12/20/2001
Starnes Road
Thomas Road
Union Valley
Road
W Maple Grove
Road
Ellettsville
LOCATION OF
DATE OF
TRAFFIC
COUNT
32
THE MONROE COUNTY THOROUGHFARE PLAN
In 1994, a series of public hearings were
conducted throughout the County to
discuss capital improvement projects in
the area. One such meeting was held in
Ellettsville.
The meetings also
addressed accident problems, traffic
congestion,
anticipated
future
residential, industrial or commercial
growth,
and
major
roadway
improvements on state highways such as
those along State Road 46. The input
received from the meetings was used to
prepare
the
Monroe
County
Thoroughfare Plan.
In developing the capital improvement
projects, a series of information is
assembled. Existing traffic counts, road
widths,
accidents,
and
roadway
capacities were used to identify existing
transportation deficiencies in this area.
Future land use policies and plans are
used to determine the location of future
residential, commercial and industrial
activity.
Road projects were then
assigned to best accommodate this
growth.
High accident areas identified in the
Ellettsville area are Union Valley Road
and State Road 46, Hartstraight Road
and Woodyard Road, and Hartstraight
Road and State Road 46. Congestion
problems exist on Union Valley Road
due to increased development and a high
traffic count. The improvements of the
intersection with State Road 46 has
improved the immediate area but the
entire corridor should be improved.
The protection of future road rights-ofway is a very important part of any
thoroughfare plan. Once a series of
improvements has been selected, the
Ellettsville
rights-of-way
needed
for
these
improvements will be shown on maps.
As development occurs, land can be set
aside from this right-of-way thereby
saving the cost of purchasing the land
and any improvements in the future.
Monroe County, as with most local
government agencies in Indiana, has
limited funds for capital expenditures. It
relies mostly on state revenues derived
from the gasoline tax and licensing fees.
The
County’s
major
capital
improvement project is in the middle of
the region’s industrial base along Curry
Pike and from State Road 45 to State
Road 46. This project is expected to be
completed in late 2005. Vernal Pike will
be a modified two lane facility similar to
Hartstraight Road.
The limits of
construction are from Hartstraight Road
to State Road 37. This project is
expected to be completed in 2009.
Once funds for these improvements have
been obligated, the current thoroughfare
plan anticipates design to begin on
Union Valley Road and Tapp Road. The
limits of the Union Valley Road project
are from State Road 46, a four lane
segment to McNeely Street, to Maple
Grove Road, a two lane modification.
Other projects planned for this area is
the reconstruction of the intersection of
Woodyard/Ratliff Roads and Harstraight
Road, an extension of Hartstraight Road
to Maple Grove Road, Maple Grove
Road from State Road 46 to State Road
37, upgrading of Lost Man’s Lane and
its extension to the proposed Hartstraight
Road extension, and the Ellettsville
bypass, which was one of the original
options of the current project.
33
Availability of funding for these projects
will dictate when they are completed.
Currently there exists an industrial
overlay zone west of Ellettsville, along
Flatwoods Road. It is anticipated that
Ellettsville
when a company is sited in this area, a
tax increment financing district will be
formed to assist with infrastructure
improvements to this area. Other grants
will also be sought to assist with the
funding of these improvements.
34
ELLETTSVILLE—VISION2020— A CRYSTAL BALL
WORTH LOOKING INTO
Twenty years into the future the
prospects look bright for Ellettsville.
Investment will be brought by the strong
4-lane
highway
link
between
Bloomington and Spencer.
Festivals, public art, building restoration,
and preservation will focus on limestone,
the key to the community’s identity.
The local independent school system
will continue to be the center of the
wheel of youth sports and family
involvement.
Residential subdivisions with many
amenities will provide thousands of
families
moderate
cost
housing
opportunities.
Everyday shopping needs will be
available within Town. For local, as
well as tourist enjoyment, new small
shops and restaurants will occupy a
revitalized downtown.
Ellettsville
Bed and breakfasts, Antique shops and
small offices will blend into the
neighborhoods near town.
Historical churches will be protected and
several new churches utilizing limestone
as a building material will be
constructed.
Lakes in park like settings will dot the
community and new commercial
recreational opportunities will be a
feature in the area.
A new modern government center will
be at the heart of the community.
A significant number of new light
industries built west of Ellettsville will
offer employment close to home.
County, state and federal highways will
make Ellettsville highly accessible for
ease of transportation to many
significant locations.
35
Images of Ellettsville—
Ellettsville
36
Limestone, History, and Culture—photos courtesy of The Journal
Ellettsville
37
Snapshots of Residential Quality of Life—
Ellettsville
38
Photos courtesy of The Journal
Ellettsville
39
GLOSSARY OF PLANNING TERMS:
ACCESS
CONTROL
and
MANAGEMENT: Control of entrance,
exits and turns of vehicles using busy
streets and highways in order to increase
safety and move traffic efficiently.
ADAPTIVE REUSE: Finding a new
use for an older building structure,
which is suitable for renovation.
ARTERIAL ROADS: Wide roads,
which have signals at important
intersections collecting and distributing
traffic
from
neighborhoods
and
subdivisions.
BUFFERS: A vegetative natural screen
usually of evergreens, which lessons the
visual impact of an adjacent land use.
Privacy fences and landscaped earthen
mounds may also be used as buffers.
BUSINESS INCUBATOR: Facilities
dedicated to the start up and growth of
small business. The affordable space
and support is usually temporary.
CLUSTER PATTERN: Grouping of
homes or stores close together without
changing the overall density of a large
parcel which saves on infrastructure and
leaves sensitive environmental areas as
greenspace.
COMMUNICATION
INFRASTRUCTURE: State of the art
capital improvements, which facilitate
high-speed multi media and multipurpose communication and information
distribution.
when
protected
and
enhanced
contributes to a sense of place and
community identity.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: A plan
prepared by the Planning Commission
working with a professional planner that
promotes the public health, safety,
morals, convenience, order, or the
general welfare, efficiency and economy
in the process of land use development.
FLOOD PLAIN: A low area which
naturally floods at regular intervals, the
area is likely to have a 6.4” rain event in
24 hours every 100 years.
TAX BASE: The income a town derives
from its taxes. Property taxes are greater
than the cost of providing services to
properties if investments are of high
value and have a density efficiency,
which lowers the cost of infrastructure.
TIF DISTRICT: Tax increment
financing sets aside all property taxes on
new construction to be used specifically
to support the new investment with
improvements in basic infrastructure.
Tax money for a short period of time is
used only within the specific district
affected. To qualify for a TIF district
the area must lack infrastructure or be
blighted.
URBAN SPRAWL: Land uses built at a
distance from supportive infrastructure.
Sprawl depends on the extensive use of
the automobile since needed services are
at a distance. Sprawl is expensive to
serve with utilities and other services.
COMMUNITY CHARACTER: The
visual character of a community which
Ellettsville
40
IDEAS FROM THE ELLETTSVILLE
PUBLIC MEETING 8/14/01
1. Pre-develop infrastructure for the
Westside industrial park.
2. Clean and maintain the Jacks Defeat
Creek waterway.
3. Historic renovations need to take
priority over a tourism focus.
4. Encourage unique “trolley type”
transportation to Bloomington.
5. Encourage
neighborhood
associations.
6. Make pedestrian pathways ADA
compliant.
7. Encourage downtown apartments
over stores.
8. Use limestone fountains in the
streetscape design.
9. Expand Ellettsville’s web site.
10. Encourage sign size to match the size
of the business.
11. Signs should direct drivers to
parking lots.
12. Explore merging the private sewer
companies in the area.
13. Expand
youth
recreational
opportunities.
14. Explore grants and loans for building
conversion and retrofitting.
15. Develop promotional materials about
Ellettsville.
16. The Ellettsville web site should
include homes for sale, church
listings, and business opportunities.
Ellettsville
17. Seek a renewed identity for
Ellettsville being a “nice, warm
town”, a limestone arts center, a
focus on youth football leagues, and
the beautiful Jacks Defeat Creek
being more like a canal with ducks,
walkways, and outdoor picnic areas.
18. Renovate the old elementary school
for a public use community center.
19. Develop the Limestone Heritage
Trail to Bloomington.
20. Focus on the development of
Hartstrait Road as an important
corridor.
21. Add more overnight lodging to the
community.
22. Widen and improve State Hwy. 46
all the way to Spencer, Indiana.
23. Plan now for the impact of I 69 being
built near Ellettsville.
24. Develop and sustain a summertime
farmer’s market.
25. Promote the fact that Ellettsville is
close to the Monroe County Airport.
26. Study and recruit business types
which would fit well into the
Ellettsville economy.
27. Explore how the future I 69 highway
would be a business link between
Ellettsville and Indianapolis.
28. Develop more parking lots in
downtown Ellettsville.
41
ELLETTSVILLE – VISION 2020 – BREAKOUT GROUPS
NEED TO:
Use incentives
Foster a pro-business climate downtown
Build more sidewalks
Focus on youth
Encourage young people to stay in the
community
Improve connectivity of streets and
roads
Encourage mixed land uses within the
Town
Restore older buildings
Understand consequences of the I-69
location
Ellettsville
Develop Jack’s Defeat Creek pathway
Create an hourly transport shuttle to
nearby shopping, IU and Bloomington
Improve tax base
Attract medical, R and D, and high tech
business
Plan for a truck route bypass
Improve employment
Retain existing business and industry
Build some modern style buildings
Greatly improve the look of St. State
Road 46
42
ELLETTSVILLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC
SURVEY RESULTS:
Through out the planning process a 15question public survey was circulated at
three public meetings, the Chamber of
Commerce annual meeting, printed in
the Ellettsville Journal, and distributed at
the Ellettsville Fall Festival. Slightly
over 90 survey forms from residents
within the geographical area of the
Comprehensive Plan were tabulated.
The survey questions posed were
general, not technical, and, in fact,
interpretation may vary. The public
survey, however, should be thought of in
the context of an additional valuable tool
for the complex process of accessing
public insight.
The response tabulated for planning
purposes has a focus on the bricks and
mortar built environment. This topic is
often not on the radar screen for most
citizens concerned about economics,
politics, and social issues. Planning for
effective quality land use requires a
focused analysis of the natural and manmade environment, making the topic
central to a long-range plan.
The respondents, on a 5 scale, scored the
statements with a score of 5 indicating
they agreed strongly with the statement.
What follows is a list of the statement
that had the strongest agreement (closest
to the maximum number 5) all the way
to the statements that had the least
support.
Strong citizen support indicated the need
to include the identified land use issue or
concept
within
the
policy
recommendations.
Ellettsville
RANKING OF THE STATEMENTS:
Repairing and reconstructing streets,
sidewalks and utility lines will be very
important. – (4.53)
Ellettsville must correct its storm water
drainage and flood problems. – (4.51)
Increasing employment opportunities
close to town will be important. – (4.47)
To enhance the roadside areas, overhead
utility lines should be buried. – (4.36)
I see the State Hwy. 46 improvements
attracting major business investment
along the highway. – (4.25)
Limestone features such as walls and
sculpture would add a good quality to
the streetscape. – (4.24)
A new street plan should be developed
to ease traffic and promote safety near
State State Road 46. – (4.18)
I believe the community needs more
recreational facilities. – (4.08)
I support developing a pedestrian trail
along Jacks Defeat Creek. – (4.04)
I would like to see large restaurants and
some first class lodging facilities built in
the area. – (3.97)
I would like to see the older buildings in
the town preserved and restored. – (3.95)
43
I would like to see retail stores and
restaurants
developed
west
of
Ellettsville. – (3.96)
I feel there should be fewer new signs,
smaller in size and lower in height. –
(3.18)
I like the open area west of town
becoming an industrial park. – (3.68)
There must be a way to reduce truck
traffic on State Hwy. 46. – (3.02)
Ellettsville
44
THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE –
POPULATION DATA – 2000
TOTAL POPULATION 5,078 – projected growth to 2020 = 6,215
HOUSEHOLDS
1,944 – projected growth to 2020 = 2,333
FAMILIES
1,346 – projected growth to 2020 = 1,616
MEDIAN AGE
32.7 – projected growth to 2020 = 35.3
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
2.57 – projected growth to 2020 = 2.38
Ellettsville
45
Households and Families: 2000
Subject
Number
Percent
HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Total households
Family households
Male householder
Female householder
Nonfamily households
Male householder
Living alone
Female householder
Living alone
1944
1346
935
411
598
230
169
368
324
100
69.2
48.1
21.1
30.8
11.8
8.7
18.9
16.7
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
Total households
1-person household
2-person household
3-person household
4-person household
5-person household
6-person household
7-or-more-person household
1944
493
590
388
283
132
40
18
100
25.4
30.3
20
14.6
6.8
2.1
0.9
Average household size
Average family size
2.57
3.09
FAMILY TYPE AND PRESENCE OF OWN CHILDREN
Families
With related children under 18 years
With own children under 18 years
Under 6 years only
Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years
6 to 17 years only
1346
830
794
177
149
468
100
61.7
59
13.2
11.1
34.8
Married-couple families
With related children under 18 years
With own children under 18 years
Under 6 years only
Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years
6 to 17 years only
995
549
529
132
116
281
100
55.2
53.2
13.3
11.7
28.2
Female householder, no husband present
With related children under 18 years
With own children under 18 years
Under 6 years only
Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years
6 to 17 years only
257
205
194
31
22
141
100
79.8
75.5
12.1
8.6
54.9
Ellettsville
(X)
(X)
46
Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000
Subject
Number
Percent
Total population
SEX AND AGE
Male
Female
5078
100
2415
2663
47.6
52.4
Under 5 years
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
385
444
430
414
282
778
882
663
186
135
220
175
84
7.6
8.7
8.5
8.2
5.6
15.3
17.4
13.1
3.7
2.7
4.3
3.4
1.7
Median age (years)
32.7
18 years and over
Male
Female
21 years and over
62 years and over
65 years and over
Male
Female
3551
1611
1940
3348
550
479
154
325
69.9
31.7
38.2
65.9
10.8
9.4
3
6.4
RACE
One race
While
Black or African American
American Indiana and Alaska Native
Asian
Asian Indian
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Other Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Native Hawaiian
5015
4866
62
9
37
1
5
13
0
16
2
0
0
0
98.8
95.8
1.2
0.2
0.7
0
0.1
0.3
0
0.3
0
0
0
0
Ellettsville
(X)
47
Guamanian or Chamorro
Samoan
Other Pacific Islander
Some other race
Two or more races
0
0
0
41
63
0
0
0
0.8
1.2
Race alone or in combination with one or more other races
White
4929
Black or African American
81
American Indian and Alaska Native
40
Asian
46
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0
Some other race
52
97.1
1.6
0.8
0.9
0
1
HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE
Ellettsville
48
Tenure, Household Size, and Age of Householder: 2000
Subject
Tenure
Occupied housing units
Owner-occupied housing units
Renter-occupied housing units
Number
Percent
1944
1324
620
100
68.1
31.9
TENURE BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE
Owner-occupied housing units
1-person household
2-person household
3-person household
4-person household
5-person household
6-person household
7-or-more-person household
1324
230
433
290
225
99
34
13
100
17.4
32.7
21.9
17
7.5
2.6
1
Renter-occupied housing units
1-person household
2-person household
3-person household
4-person household
5-person household
6-person household
7-or-more-person household
620
263
157
98
58
33
6
5
100
42.4
25.3
15.8
9.4
5.3
1
0.8
TENURE BY AGE OF
HOUSEHOLDER
Owner-occupied housing units
15 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
1324
30
244
402
325
153
170
107
49
14
100
2.3
18.4
30.4
24.5
11.6
12.8
8.1
0.7
1.1
Renter-occupied housing units
15 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
620
83
157
123
83
42
132
49
60
23
100
13.4
25.3
19.8
13.4
6.8
21.3
7.9
9.7
3.7
Ellettsville
49
Age Groups and Sex: 2000
Number
Age
both sexes
Male
Percent
Female
Both
sexes
Male
Female
Males per
100 females
Total population
Under 5 years
5 to 9 years
10 to 14 years
15 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 to 69 years
70 to 74 years
75 to 79 years
80 to 84 years
85 to 89 years
90 years and over
5078
385
444
430
414
282
375
403
482
400
370
293
186
135
121
99
84
91
47
37
2415
218
231
211
213
134
180
195
237
177
181
137
85
62
43
44
22
25
13
7
2663
167
213
219
201
148
195
208
245
223
189
156
101
73
78
55
62
66
34
30
100
7.6
8.7
8.5
8.2
5.6
7.4
7.9
9.5
7.9
7.3
5.8
3.7
2.7
2.4
1.9
1.7
1.8
0.9
0.7
100
9
9.6
8.7
8.8
5.5
7.5
8.1
9.8
7.3
7.5
5.7
3.5
2.6
1.8
1.8
0.9
1
0.5
0.3
100
6.3
8
8.2
5-Jul
5.6
7.3
7.8
9.2
8.4
7.1
5.9
3.8
2.7
2.9
2.1
2.3
2.5
1.3
1.1
90.7
130.5
108.5
96.3
106
90.5
92.3
93.8
96.7
79.4
95.8
87.8
84.2
84.9
55.1
80
35.5
37.9
38.2
23.3
Under 18 years
18 to 64 years
18 to 24 years
25 to 44 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 64 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
65 to 74 years
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
1527
3072
428
1660
778
882
984
663
321
479
220
175
84
804
1457
203
789
375
414
465
318
147
154
87
47
20
723
1615
225
871
403
468
519
345
174
325
133
128
64
30.1
60.5
8.4
32.7
15.3
17.4
19.4
13.1
6.3
9.4
4.3
3.4
1.7
33.3
60.3
8.4
32.7
15.5
17.1
19.3
13.2
6.1
6.4
3.6
1.9
0.8
27.11
60.6
8.4
32.7
15.1
17.6
19.5
13
6.5
12-Jan
5
4.8
2.4
111.2
90.2
90.2
90.6
93.1
88.5
89.6
92.2
84.5
47.4
65.4
36.7
31.3
16 years and over
18 years and over
21 years and over
60 years and over
62 years and over
67 years and over
75 years and over
3730
3551
3348
614
550
433
259
1702
1611
1518
216
189
137
67
2028
1940
1830
398
361
296
192
73.5
69.9
65.9
12.1
10.8
8.5
5.1
70.5
66.7
62.9
8.9
7.8
5.7
2.8
76.2
72.9
68.7
14.9
13.6
11.1
7.2
83.9
83
83
54.3
52.4
46.3
34.9
Median age (years)
32.7
30.7
34.6
Ellettsville
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
50
General Housing Demographics
Subject
Total population
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Cuban
Other Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino
White alone
5078
60
11
10
0
39
5018
4846
Percent
100
1.2
0.2
0.2
0
0.8
98.8
95.4
RELATIONSHIP
Total population
In households
Householder
Spouse
Child
Own child under 18 years
Other relatives
Under 18 years
Nonrelatives
Unmarried partner
In group quarters
Institutionalized population
Noninstitutionalized population
5078
5001
1944
995
1683
1418
131
67
248
136
77
77
0
100
98.5
38.3
19.6
33.1
27.9
2.6
1.3
4.9
2.7
1.5
1.5
0
HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE
Total households
Family households (families)
With own children under 18 years
Married-couple family
With own children under 18 years
Female householder, no husband present
With own children under 18 years
Nonfamily households
Householder living alone
Householder 65 years and over
1944
1346
794
995
529
257
194
598
493
177
100
69.2
40.8
51.2
27.2
13.2
10
30.8
25.4
9.1
Households with individuals under 18 years
Households with individuals 65 years and over
846
320
43.5
16.5
Average household size
Average family size
2.57
3.09
HOUSING OCCUPANCY
Total housing units
Occupied housing units
Vacant housing units
2085
1944
141
Ellettsville
Number
(X)
(X)
100
93.2
6.8
51
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use
Homeowner vacancy rate (percent)
Rental vacancy rate (percent)
4
3.1
8.4
HOUSING TENURE
Occupied housing units
Owner-occupied housing units
Renter-occupied housing units
1944
1324
620
Average household size of owner-occupied unit
Average household size of renter-occupied unit
2.76
2.16
Ellettsville
0.2
(X)
(X)
100
68.1
31.9
(X)
(X)
52
General Housing Characteristics: 2000
Subject
Number
Percent
OCCUPANCY STATUS
Total housing units
Occupied housing units
Vacant housing units
2085
1944
141
100
93.2
6.8
TENURE
Occupied housing units
Owner-occupied housing units
Renter-occupied housing units
1944
1324
620
100
68.1
31.9
VACANCY STATUS
Vacant housing units
For rent
For sale only
Rented or sold, not occupied
For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use
For migratory workers
Other vacant
141
57
42
13
4
0
25
100
40.4
29.8
9.2
2.8
0
17.7
RACE OF HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units
One race
White
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Some other race
Two or more races
1944
1926
1883
22
5
9
0
7
18
100
99.1
96.9
1.1
0.3
0.5
0
0.4
0.9
HISPANIC OR LATINO HOUSEHOLDER AND RACE OF
HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units
1944
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
17
Not Hispanic or Latino
1927
White alone
1874
100
0.9
99.1
96.4
AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER
Occupied housing units
15 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
65 to 74 years
100
5.8
20.6
27
21
10
15.5
8
Ellettsville
1944
113
401
525
408
195
302
156
53
75 to 84 years
85 years and over
Ellettsville
109
37
5.6
1.9
54
Household Population and Household Type by Tenure
HOUSEHOLD POPULATION
population in occupied housing units
Owner-occupied housing units
Renter-occupied housing units
5001
3660
1341
Per occupied housing unit
Per owner-occupied housing unit
Per renter-occupied housing unit
2.57
2.76
2.16
HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Owner-occupied housing units
Family households
Householder 15 to 64 years
Householders 65 years and over
Married-couple family
Male householder, no wife present
Female householder, no husband present
Nonfamily households
Householder 15 to 64 years
Householders 65 years and over
Male householder
Living alone
65 years and over
Not living alone
Female householder
Living alone
65 years and over
Not living alone
1324
1046
939
107
822
56
168
278
215
63
103
78
18
25
175
152
45
23
100
79
70.9
8.1
62.1
4.2
12.7
21
16.2
4.8
7.8
5.9
1.4
1.9
13.2
11.5
3.4
1.7
Renter-occupied housing units
Family households
Householder 15 to 64 years
Householders 65 years and over
Married-couple family
Male householder, no wife present
Female householder, no husband present
Nonfamily households
Householder 15 to 64 years
Householders 65 years and over
Male householder
Living alone
65 years and over
Not living alone
Female householder
Living alone
65 years and over
Not living alone
620
300
283
17
173
38
89
320
205
115
127
91
9
36
193
172
105
21
100
48.4
45.6
2.7
27.9
6.1
14.4
51.6
33.1
18.5
20.5
14.7
1.5
5.8
31.1
27.7
16.9
3.4
Ellettsville
100
73.2
26.8
(X)
(X)
(X)
55
2006 Ellettsville Survey
In December 2006, a survey was sent to approximately 75 Ellettsville residents. There were over
50 responses about various purchasing habits. Here are some of the results:
RESTAURANTS
Restaurant Frequency
 Most of the survey respondents eat
3-4 meals per week in a restaurant
yet 2/3 of respondents eat 0-2 meals
per week in a restaurant in
Ellettsville. This shows that most
people eat out frequently but leave
the town boundaries to do so.
Average Restaurant Spending
 Most people spend $46-60 at
restaurants per week. Since they are
mainly leaving town to go to
restaurants, this is a large sum of
money leaving the Ellettsville
economy.
General Popularity Categories
 The most often write-in categories
for restaurants visited were Mexican,
Italian, and Chinese.
Ellettsville Popularity Categories
 The most often write-in categories
for restaurants visited within
Ellettsville
were:
American,
Mexican, and Chinese.
Weekday vs. Weekend
 Ellettsville restaurants are most
frequented during the week with 2/3
of restaurants visited on the weekend
being located in Bloomington.
Lunchtime Eateries
 Ellettsville also fared well for
lunchtime eateries. The most often
write-in categories for restaurants
visited for lunch were: McDonalds,
Arby’s, and Subway.
Rating Scale
 In deciding which restaurant to
patronize respondents were given a 1
(not important) to 5 (very important)
scale with which to rate price,
location & quality.
 Most people rated price #3 (neutral),
location #5 (very important), and
quality #5 (very important) showing
that location & quality are most
important to decision making.
Special Occasions
 The most often write-in categories
for restaurants visited for a
celebratory occasion were: Texas
Roadhouse,
Olive
Garden,
Steakhouses.
All of these are
located outside of Ellettsville
Ellettsville
56
GROCERY SHOPPING
Most Frequented Groceries
 The most often write-in responses
for grocery shopping were: Marsh,
Kroger, and Beuhlers.
70% of
people did grocery shopping in
Bloomington.
Grocery Spending
 Most respondents spent between
$46-60 in groceries per week.
Again, it is a large sum of money
leaving the Ellettsville economy.
Rating Scale
 In deciding which grocery stores to
patronize respondents were given a 1
(not important) to 5 (very important)
scale with which to rate price,
location & quality. Most people
rated price #5 (most important),
location #4 (important), and quality
#5/#4 (very important/important)
showing that price, location &
quality are all important to decision
making.
Meat/Produce/Vegetable Products
 These results were fairly similar for
meat products with 74.1% of people
shopping in Bloomington.
 These results were fairly similar for
produce & vegetables with 80.4% of
people shopping in Bloomington.
Dairy Products
 The results were different for
dairy/bakery items with almost 40%
of people shopping in Ellettsville and
only 56% going to Bloomington.
Perhaps since these items have a
shorter shelf-life, they are purchased
more frequently, closer to home.
OTHER SHOPPING NEEDS
HOME REPAIR ITEMS

The most often write-in responses
for stores visited for home repair
items were: Lowes, True Value, and
Menards. 27% of stores are in
Ellettsville, 72% in Bloomington yet
in the numerical scale, location was
deemed most important to home
repair choices.
Ellettsville
RECREATIONAL SPORTING
EQUIPMENT

90% of recreational sporting stores
visited are located in Bloomington.
SCHOOL/OFFICE SUPPLIES

The most often write-in responses
for stores visited for school & office
supply items were: Wal-Mart, Office
Depot, and K-Mart.
57
CLOTHING

The most often write-in responses
for clothing stores visited were:
Kohls, Wal-Mart, and Target with
25% of respondents spending $36-50
on clothing per month. 100% of
clothing stores visited are located in
Bloomington. This shows a lack of
options in the Ellettsville/Spencer
area.
ELECTRONICS

TRANSPORTATION USE



HEALTH CARE NEEDS

The most often write-in responses
for electronic stores visited were:
Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and HH Gregg
with price & quality being rated most
important.


WHITE GOODS


The most often write-in responses
for stores to purchase white goods
were: Sears, Lowes, and HH Gregg.
100% of white goods are purchased
in Bloomington.
All respondents own personal use
vehicles.
One respondent walks to work; all
others use their cars.
Most respondents said that they
would
not
utilize
public
transportation more if it were
expanded.
66.7% of primary care physicians are
located in Bloomington (27 in
Ellettsville).
88% of specialists are located in
Bloomington (0 in Ellettsville)
80% of eye care specialists are in
Bloomington (16 in Ellettsville)
56% of prescriptions are filled in
Ellettsville.
BARS

40% of respondents drink alcoholic
beverages in Ellettsville, 60% go to
Bloomington.
CAR PURCHASE
PETS/VETERINARY SERVICES

Car purchases had the most diverse
range of location with 19% of
respondents purchasing cars in
Ellettsville, 50% in Bloomington,
24% in Indianapolis, and a few in
Martinsville,
Greenwood,
and
Spencer. This shows that for a
bigger ticket item, individuals are
willing to travel further to purchase
what they are looking for.
Ellettsville

85% of respondents own pets. The
most often write-in responses for
where respondents take their animals
to the veterinarian were: Arlington
Heights and “Ellettsville”.
58
ELLETTSVILLE LACKING AMENITIES
Respondents were given a list of 23 different amenities with a corresponding scale as to how
they viewed the demand within town.
GROCERY STORE
 The largest positive response was for
a large grocery where 70% of
respondents “strongly agree” that
Ellettsville needs a large grocery
compared to 2% which “strongly
disagree”
 This corresponds to the responses for
fresh produce (35% strongly agree,
2% strongly disagree), a butcher
(22% strongly agree, 10% strongly
disagree), and, to a lesser extent, a
bakery (26.5% strongly agree, 10.2%
strongly disagree)
 Coupled with the strong numbers of
individuals leaving Bloomington to
do food shopping, filling this
demand within Ellettsville makes
sense.
FAMILY DINING
 64.2% of people “strongly agree”
that Ellettsville needs more family
dining and 0% strongly disagree.
 This was the only listed option that
went completely unopposed. None
of the respondents are adamantly
against the idea of more family
dining in town.

Perhaps individuals are happy
traveling to Bloomington for
particular stores.
BICYCLE/JOGGING PATH
 The discussed bicycle path has some
of the most evenly divided results
with 34% of respondents “strongly
agree” that Ellettsville needs a
bicycle path and 24% of respondents
“strongly disagree”.
VIDEO RENTAL
 54% of respondents believe that
Ellettsville does NOT need another
video rental store (only 2% strongly
agree that Ellettsville needs more
video rental stores).
BARS
 Even more strongly, 60% of
respondents believe that Ellettsville
does NOT need more bars (only
8.3% strongly agree that Ellettsville
needs more bars.
CLOTHING SHOPPING
 Paradoxically, though 100% of
respondents stated that they shop for
clothing in Bloomington, only 27.3%
“strongly agree” that Ellettsville
needs more retail stores.
Ellettsville
59
Ellettsville Thoroughfare Plan
Ellettsville
60