By PAULENE POPARAD

Meeting Thursday, the Chesterton Advisory Plan Commission agreed to consider member Mike Bannon’s proposal that the town require all document submissions related to a planned-unit development or PUD to be supplied by the petitioner on CD disks.

Originals of the PUD documents also would be required in written form, but the CDs “would be a way for us to start getting things electronically,” said Bannon.

“I don’t need all that paper. We don’t need to kill all these trees. CDs don’t take up that much space,” he explained.

Town planner and Plan Commission member Steve Yagelski said Chesterton currently requires engineering plans to be submitted in disk form as well as hard-copy. He questioned how as a PUD ordinance is amended during its consideration, as often takes place, the most current version of the CD would be identified. Member Fred Owens said a system could be devised.

Commission vice-president Jeff Trout, subbing for absent president George Stone, said he routinely throws away obsolete zoning paperwork. He noted the construction and engineering fields are going to the CD format allowing Trout, who owns a glass company, the ability to scan and print out only the few pages he needs out of much larger documents.

“The rest of the world wouldn’t be doing it if it cost more and took longer,” said Trout of electronic filing. Bannon said he believes it will save the town both staff time and money.

On his recommendation the proposal unanimously was tabled to give members more time to review it and staff the opportunity to consider how to implement it. Bannon said PUDs are a first step and electronic filing with the town can be expanded into other areas as any initial problems are worked out.

“I don’t understand the reticence for at least starting on this process,” he told the commission. “We need to get ahead of the curve.”

Posted 5/19/2006