November 2, 2021
A Town of Zionsville Publication
In This Issue • Zionsville Town Code Update • Zionsville Receives Green Project of the Year • Parks Volunteers are Needed
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November 2, 2021
Zionsville Town Code Progress and Update
The Town of Zionsville is taking steps to modernize its zoning and development regulations. The desired outcome is a user-friendly, concise, easy-to-read zoning ordinance that promotes the goals and objectives of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. A series of public input meetings with residents, business owners and Town officials took place at the end of September. These candid conversations resulted in some common themes: •
Preserve what’s great about Zionsville. From the eclectic and historic buildings that populate the village, to the semi-rural and farmland areas of Perry and Union Townships, residents want to ensure that future generations can enjoy the diverse and unique range of environments in Zionsville. Participants strongly desired to limit the encroachment of single-family residential development and industrial uses on agricultural uses. There was broad support
easy to read, understand and administer. It must be easy for all users to visualize how regulations in the Town Code translate into built results, leading to faster, predictable outcomes and fewer variances.
for value-capture strategies to concentrate new development in new town centers and hamlets that exhibit the look and feel of the village. •
Zionsville should continue to grow while remaining exceptional. Zionsville is a popular community in a booming region and residents are ready to face the challenge of accommodating future growth in a manner different from neighboring communities. Participants shared supported zoning that permitted a variety of housing types, affordability levels and mixed uses. There is broad support for development standards that match the size, material quality and site accessibility characteristics of the village.
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The Zionsville Town Code should be accessible to all. Residents, business owners, developers and Town staff alike – everyone desires a land use code that is
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Zoning should align with planning for infrastructure. The community has a keen understanding how infrastructure can impact land use and vice-versa. Zionsville’s land systems are connected by its infrastructure – its roads, trails, utilities, stormwater, wastewater and drinking water systems, as well as natural systems including landscaping, trees, watersheds and natural habitat. Participants supported zoning regulations that align with and help to control future infrastructure development.
If you didn’t get a chance to provide input, please share “your big idea” on the project website at www. zionsvilletowncode.com.
November 2, 2021
Zionsville Awarded Green Project of the Year Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) recently awarded the Town of Zionsville the 2021 Green Project of the Year winner. Zionsville took home the Green Project of the Year award for numerous green and sustainable initiatives: the Town’s first Climate Action Plan, a curbside composting program, various parks initiatives and the promotion of solar to residents. Within the Climate Action Plan, the Town of Zionsville has identified strategic measures to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to manage climate change and its impacts on the planet. As part of the plan, the Town has partnered with Earth Mama Compost to offer residents special pricing for curbside compost pickup. Since the first pickup at the beginning of February, the two biweekly Zionsville routes have diverted more than 17,000 pounds of compostable waste to the decomposition mounds at GreenCycle. That is nearly eight metric tons of waste diverted from trash.
Also part of the Climate Action Plan, the Town of Zionsville has taken an active role in promoting solar to residents and adopting wiser practices and technology to reduce overall energy. The Town partnered with Solar United Neighbors to promote the Boone County Solar Co-op. In 2020, 69 Boone County homeowners joined the co-op (56 with Zionsville addresses) and 10 Boone County homeowners signed solar contracts (9 with Zionsville addresses). Ensuring the sustainability of our natural environment is a priority for Mayor Emily Styron’s administration. “We are a progressive, environmentally conscious community that prioritizes the health and wellness of our residents and the earth,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “We are proud of the efforts taken and underway to become a green community. We will continue the positive momentum with an electric vehicle (EV) readiness road map and much more in 2021.”
Mayor Emily Styron accepting the Green Project of the Year Award
Community composting is here in Zionsville!
SIGN UP NOW AT: EarthMamaCompost.com
Interested? Let us break it down for you…
The Town of Zionsville has partnered with a trusted local service, Earth Mama Compost, to recycle your household’s food scraps (and more) rather than wasting them in a landfill. They’ll bring everything you need and swing by your house every other week for contactless pickup. Diverting waste through composting is cheap, easy, and impactful. PLUS, in the spring, you can take home a bucket of the organic soil that you helped create!
Sign up at EarthMamaCompost.com Monthly fee: $10 (a 50% discount for Zionsville residents)
LEARN MORE about Zionsville’s NEW Climate Action Plan and more everyday ways that you can make a difference at www.zionsville-in.gov/ClimateActionPlan.
TO HELP FULFILL OUR
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November 2, 2021
Sustainability Initiatives in our Parks
Recycling receptables at Mulberry Fields Park
Earlier this year the Zionsville Parks Department was awarded a $4,567.29 Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) grant to create a pilot recycling program in our parks system. Recycling receptacles are being installed at four of our parks: Heritage Trail Park, Elm Street Green, Mulberry Fields and Overley-Worman Park. Please help us keep this program successful by properly sorting recyclables from waste as you visit our parks. The grant also funded the installation of two compost collection sites near our community gardens. Gardeners can deposit green waste from their plots into the compost cribs throughout the season and composted materials will be used to enrich the soil each fall. Compost collection site
In the future, it is our goal to create a certified composting site and incorporate a compost program in our park system receptacles
November 2, 2021
Be a Parks Volunteer: What You Need to Know
Zionsville Parks and Recreation offers fun and educational volunteer opportunities for adults, youth, community organizations, student projects and corporate groups. Volunteers are integral to the day-to-day operations and the overall success of the programs and services the Parks Department offers.
Weed Wrangle Honeysuckle Removal We are partnering with Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) to remove invasive honeysuckle from two areas of our parks. Honeysuckle out competes our native wildflowers, tree saplings and shrubs for space, nutrients, sunlight and water. Volunteers must be eight years or older. Those under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Some hand tools will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves and loppers if they have them. Upcoming Weed Wrangle events: November 6 from 9 a.m. – noon at Carter Station (4643 Pebblepoint Pass) November 20 from 1 – 4 p.m. at Creekside Nature Park (11001 E. Sycamore Street) Please sign up at www.zionsville-in.gov/volunteering.
Winterfest Winterfest runs December 10 to January 2 at Mulberry Fields Park. The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to assist with Winterfest programming, guest services and the
warming station. If you are interested in becoming a Winterfest volunteer, complete a volunteer application at www.zionsville-in.gov/volunteering. Upon receipt of your application, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.
Long-Term Volunteer Opportunities Volunteering with Zionsville Parks and Recreation is a satisfying way of giving back to our community while enjoying the beauty of the parks. Year-round positions include program assistants, animal care, Zionsville Nature Center Ambassadors, Trail Ambassadors and community outreach. If you are interested in becoming a Park volunteer, complete a volunteer application at www.zionsville-in.gov/volunteering. Upon receipt of your application, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.
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November 2, 2021
A Short History Behind Marysville Road In September 2021, Mayor Emily Styron joined former Mayor Tim Haak and Town of Zionsville officials for a ribbon cutting for the new Marysville Road. This was the final phase and grand opening of the NorthSouth Connector project. This project connects the intersection of CR 850 East/Cooper Road with CR 875 East to the north of Oak Street, complete with bookend roundabouts. The stretch of road that runs north of Oak Street to Whitestown Road was named Marysville Road after the Town posted a road-naming contest, seeking input from the community to name of the newly constructed roadway segment. Why Marysville Road? This road is named after Mary “Polly” Cross, Zionsville’s most humble founding members. SullivanMunce Cultural Center shared the history of Mary “Polly” Cross and Zionsville’s founding. Mary Hoover Cross was the daughter of one of Eagle Township’s first settlers, David Hoover. Hoover acquired his Boone County property on January 27, 1824 and erected a cabin that quickly became a center of Eagle Township life. When David Hoover died on December 29, 1835, he left Polly and her husband Elijah Cross his 80-acre homestead. When William Zion approached the Cross family about establishing a new town, the Cross’s had added even more acreage to the 80 acres that they had acquired in the 1830s. William Zion was an enthusiastic supporter of the railroad and convinced Elijah Cross that a town should be founded on his family’s land. Zion and Cross partnered on the venture and worked out a rough plan for the town. The rough plan became formal after Boone County surveyor James Mullikin surveyed the site and completed the original plat. Mullikin’s layout was dated November 5, 1851 and was officially filed with the Boone County recorder’s office on January 26, 1852. Elijah Cross had the honor of selecting a name for the new town. His first choice was “Marysville” in honor of his wife. Mary “Polly” Cross did not care for the idea and Elijah settled on “Zion’s Village” to recognize William Zion. After some thought, however, Cross amended the name to “Zionsville.” The Town received many submissions from our citizens for the new road as part of the North-South Connector Project. Mayor Emily Styron identified a clear preferred choice of Marysville Road given its strong connection to local history. This long-overdue recognition of one of Zionsville’s most humble founding members will forever keep her family legacy alive.
Ribbon cutting with Emily Styron, former Mayor Tim Haak, Director of Public Works Lance Lantz and the road name contest winners Mike Steele and Jena Humphreys.
November 2, 2021
Big-4 Rail Trail South Closure
The southern portion of the Big-4 Rail Trail is closed through the end of November. This is for the installation of a new bridge over Starkey Avenue and to pave and widen the southern portion of the trail. Here’s what you need to know: Pedestrians/cyclists: • Rail Trail north of Starkey Avenue will be open. • Nancy Burton Parking Lot will be open with temporary closures only during bridge installation. • Starkey Park will be open and accessible via the parking lot entrance at the Sugarbush subdivision. Vehicles: • Starkey Road from Ford Road to 6th Street will be open for local access only. • Traffic will not be able to drive directly under the Starkey Road bridge. We understand this is an inconvenience for our Rail Trail users but this paved, wider trail with connection to the future Overley-Worman Park will soon be another asset within our trails system.
Last month the Overley-Worman Park pedestrian bridge was installed. This is the bridge that will connect the expanded southern portion of the Big-4 Rail Trail (currently under construction) to the future Overley-Worman Park. Get ready for beautiful views, exploring, hiking and more that the rolling landscape and scenery invite you to explore. OverleyWorman Park is expected to open in spring of 2022.
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November 2, 2021
Happening Around Town Z’Gravy Chase The Z’Gravy Chase is back this year and takes place on Thanksgiving morning at 8 a.m. Runners and walkers can participate live or virtually and the course options include a 2-mile run/walk, a 4-mile run/walk or a 5K virtual run/walk. All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County helping them continue their work of offering programs that enrich the lives of local youth. Registration is available at https:// zgravychase.org.
Inside Out Sale
Leaf Collection The Zionsville Department of Public Works (DPW) provides curbside leaf collection for residents in the urban service district through December 3 (weather permitting). There is no set schedule or particular day for leaf collection as the volume of leaves placed for collection cannot be controlled or predicted, and therefore the service varies each week. DPW asks the following courtesies: • Rake your leaves into long narrow piles along the curb. This makes it easier and quicker to vacuum the leaves. The department cannot reach leaves more than a few feet from the edge of the street. • The leaf vacuums can only accept leaves. Do not place sticks, pine cones, gravel or other non-leaf objects in your piles. Any damage to the leaf vacuums can delay collection. • Park your cars off the street if possible. The large truck is difficult to maneuver. Clear streets make the job much quicker.
The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Inside Out Sale takes place Saturday, November 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This European-style market encourages shoppers to come outdoors for one-of-a-kind finds before the holidays.
Winterfest presented by CENTURY 21 Scheetz
Christmas in the Village Parade The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas in the Village Parade kicks off Saturday, November 27 at 5 p.m. Santa will then light the tree for the Christmas season on the corner of Pine and Main Streets. Stay on Main Street for horse-drawn wagon rides, live entertainers on stage, S’mores and photos with Santa. Get your holiday shopping started on the right foot by visiting our wonderful Zionsville merchants.
Get ready to lace up a pair of skates and make your way to our new outdoor ice skating rink on crisp winter days and nights. Winterfest will take place this December 10 through January 2 at Mulberry Fields Park with ice skating, food vendors, a holiday village, sledding and more. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site. Find out more at www.zionsville-in. gov/winterfest.