JOINT LAND USE STUDY JLUS Summary
MAJ (Ret.) Bill Boyle from CSLOA and Tom Dziennik from CSCD participated in the start of the implementation phase of the Joint Land Use Study . The JLUS completed last August was a cooperative venture between the counties and communities near the Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.
The purpose of the study was to facilitate joint, cooperative military and community planning to anticipate, identify and prevent growth conflicts in order to protect the installation’s military mission, and the public health, safety, equality of life and economic stability.
The “study area” emphasized a one-mile buffer surrounding the two facilities. The objectives are:
1. Encourage cooperative land use planning between military installations and the surrounding community.
2. Seek to reduce the operational impacts of military installations on adjacent land.
3. Reduce potential incompatibilities between the military installation and surrounding communities while still accommodating new growth and economic development.
4. Protect the general public’s health, safety, and welfare without compromising the operational mission of the installation.
Camp Atterbury is one of Indiana’s premier training center and one of the Army’s “Power Generation Platforms.” Since federalized as a mobilization center in 2003, Camp Atterbury has trained and mobilized over 50,000 service members assigned throughout the world.
Muscatatuck Urban Training Center (MUTC) is a state-owned federally licensed Advance Urban Training Facility operated by the Indiana Army National Guard. It is a consortium of government, public and private entities unique in the ability to provide the most realistic training experience possible. Training can be tailored to replicate both foreign and domestic scenarios and can be utilized by various civilian and military organizations. It recently completed very specialized training for the Department of Defense involving civilians being sent to work in areas depending upon military security.
The economic impact of Atterbury and Muscatatuck is measured in four categories in millions of dollars FY08: $256.6
Payroll $115.5
Expenditures $16.3
Construction $27.7
Value of Jobs Created $97.1
The expansion of this “economic engine” is ahead of schedule and will approach $300 million in FY10.
Continued growth in the five county area by 2025 is estimated at 17% from 287,794 to 335,320. Growth will include residential, commercial, and industrial development. Incompatible land use put pressure on military installations and the surrounding communities. The burden imposed on military bases by surrounding development may affect readiness and limit the military’s ability to use fully its training and testing facilities for their intended purposes. Military operations may have a negative impact on the use and enjoyment of private property. To avoid these outcomes, it is important to plan for mutual, compatible development
The study identified potential zoning problems for Princes Lakes and Edinburgh, and with airport safety zones.
The survey and two public meetings developed the following:
Local leaders believe the military plans to expand their facilities
There is concern about the Transportation Plan
Most felt that land use controls surrounding the installations are adequate.
Most Plans do not recognize these installations as a significant local resource.
The implementation of the JLUS recommendations will require a cooperative effort over a number of years. The plan will require local jurisdictions to work with the military in a concerted effort to preserve the military mission. Land use compatibility recommendations are a responsibility of the local jurisdictions. Airports will be an important element. Military operational analysis and adjustments will be a critical component of the plan. The public must understand the military’s economic impact and see the military is working together to minimize areas of incompatibility. If local jurisdictions do not achieve sufficient progress in a reasonable time, the state may choose to intervene to expedite the process.
The plan includes one to three year time tiers and levels of costs. The funding for this was part of this last JLUS meeting.
Recommendations included:
Establish JLUS Implementation Authority.
Adopt electronic data storage standards and implement GIS storage
Execute Memorandums of Understanding and annual information exchange
Implement Military Installation Overlay Zones for noise and lighting and vertical obstructions.
Clarify military base immunity from noise pollution and telecommunications interference
Clarifying military base under IC36-7-30.1.
Include JLUS team in Military Base Planning Council
This is the summary of our area in the JLUS:
Cordry Sweetwater Conservancy District borders Camp Atterbury on the west and is within the one-mile buffer; there are 525 residences that are within the buffer. Homeowners are aware of Camp Atterbury and have worked together to make Codry Sweetwater a wonderful community in which to live. Although residents do hear the machineguns, bombing and aircraft overhead, it has been expressed the community is proud of the United States Military Men and Women who dedicate their lives to protect our Country.
A copy of the complete study in book and DVD format with lots of colored overlays is located at the Conservancy Office.
If your neighbor asks you to complain about the noise just remind them that it is the sound of freedom and generates jobs and income for our area.
I will keep our boards updated on the JLUS project.
MAJ (Ret.) William Boyle