Tag:Culver
Ground Water Monitoring Survey
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is conducting a Statewide Ground Water Monitoring Survey. Participation is free and if you are selected for the survey you will receive a copy of the report.
Most of the residences on Lake Maxinkuckee and throughout Marshall County are on wells. The age of the Lake Maxinkuckee wells may preclude their inclusion in the study, but it can’t hurt to ask. I’m sure there are conspiracy theories on why this might not be information you want to share, but in my estimation, most people don’t test their wells as often as they should. This is an opportunity to possibly have the test done for free. Don’t you want to know if there is something bad in your drinking water?
Here’s a link to the study site with a description of who would be eligible and an application for inclusion in the survey. The study is statewide, so it should give an interesting picture of our ground water resources. I signed up for my home which backs up to a golf course. I had the well tested when I moved in, but have only followed up on that once since that time. My bad! This is an opportunity to bring some tax dollars home!
Image Source: indiana.edu
Affordable Housing Update
Culver took a step forward with their Affordable Housing Task Force on Wednesday March 11th. Representatives from the Town Council, Redevelopment Commission, Plan Commission, Public Schools, Culver Academies and MCEDC met at the library to discuss the issues and goals regarding affordable housing. With the exception of two with staff positions, all were volunteers from the community stepping up to try and make things better.
Marshall County Has Net Out-Migration
At the March Marshall County Development for the Future round table discussion, Jeff Rae made a presentation and included a few charts, one of which I have included to the right. (Click on it to blow it up to a readable size.) It basically shows the entire State of Indiana showing the projected Net Migration by region and by county. By either metric, Marshall County has net out-migration. MCEDC and other groups are working to reverse this. Culver specifically is working to reverse this via their newly formed Affordable Housing Task Force. This is not a problem that will go away on its own. Progressive action will be required.
Can Culver Think Outside the Box?
I was pretty disappointed in the Culver Town Council at their last meeting where they addressed the wind turbine ordinance presented to them by the Plan Commission. It will probably cost Culver any opportunity to expand their Extended Territorial Zoning Boundary, but as so often happens, the voice of the few has outweighed the apathy of the many. So be it. But that’s not what this post is about. This post is about Water Towers!
During the above discussion, Ginny Munroe, Town Council President, expressed a comparison between wind turbines and the town water towers. She complained that she considers the town water towers necessary evils that are blights on the Culver skyline. But what is Culver doing about it? Apparently nothing, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have some thoughts. Ha! I’m not an engineer, so I’m not saying any of these would work, but here are some ideas Culver could explore:
Pocket Neighborhoods
I had written a blog post a couple of years ago about Pocket Towns. Recently Brent Martin of SRKM Architects sent me a link discussing Pocket Neighborhoods by a different architectural firm with a similar concept. Brent alluded to this as a possible Affordable Housing solution for Culver. As with my previous blog post, I can see this having potential in Culver and for Sand Hill Farm. Currently there is a similar concept, though not an attempt at Affordable Housing, winding its way through a PUD approval at the Culver Plan Commission. It is a development under consideration on the north side of town that I’m watching with interest. The PUD framework would allow for the necessary zoning adaptations, but does require a commercial element. I think the PUD under current consideration is stretching that concept, but technically meets it. I think it can be done more effectively though.
I continue to think the pocket neighborhood idea is intriguing and while I do not see this working for a large development, I do see how it can be a part of a larger development and could be adapted to an Affordable Housing model. Below is a sketch from the Pocket Neighborhood website that shows the concept. Very interesting.
Picture sources: Pocket Neighborhoods
