During communications and committee reports, Planning Department staff and several commissioners discussed the commission's annual training plan ahead of the townwide "all boards and commissions" session on Feb. 6.

Staff (Steph) proposed repeating some introductory topics from last year—state law that underpins commission authority, how plans and cases interact, and criteria and conditions used in reviews—but asked whether the commission wanted to emphasize different topics this year. Commissioners asked for training that clarifies which elements are relevant at each phase of review (rezone, plat, development plan), and requested clearer delineation between the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requirements and separate construction standards. Several commissioners said case studies showing common pitfalls and examples that could lead to legal exposure would be useful.

Commissioners discussed options for one-day or multi-day sessions offered by professional organizations such as APA Indiana and Purdue Extension. Staff noted the all-boards session will cover high-level interboard interaction, and suggested the commission could add a targeted session or cover the material during a regular meeting if cases permit. The commission indicated a preference for practical, phase-focused instruction and real-world examples to better align questions with the appropriate review stage.