Opinion ID: 1981820
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Comparisons between Hobart and the Annexed Area

Text: Judge Richards held that the fiscal plan and the evidence established that Hobart had designed services for the annexed area equivalent to those in similar neighborhoods in the existing city. Supp.R. at 83 (conclusion 2). The court found: The evidence shows that April Wooden, a charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a member of Hughes Associates, Indiana certified planners, and a lawyer specializing in land use law, was hired by Hobart to prepare the fiscal plan. In doing so, Ms. Wooden personally made comparisons between areas of Hobart and the [annexed area], including subdivisions, streets, sanitary, storm water sewers, street lights, refuse collection, police, and fire and ambulance services. She was assisted in this comparison by: James Hughes, head of Hughes Associates, land planners in Mishawaka, Indiana, also a consultant for Hobart, in preparing the fiscal plan; Mr. Leets, referred to in Finding No. 18; Fire Chief Tom Adams of Fort Wayne, a city actively involved in annexations. That in addition, Ms. Wooden consulted with other department heads within the City of Hobart as to all the services to be provided to the [annexed area]. Supp.R. at 82-83 (finding 24); see also id. at 81 (finding 18). This finding is amply supported by the record. April Wooden testified that comparisons had been made of like areas and that they considered the three things that are mentioned in the Statute, the topography, the land use and population. R. at 1121-22; see also R. at 1124-25 (testimony of April Wooden on statutory requirements generally). She testified further: I spent quite a bit of time driving around not only in Hobart but in the Unincorporated Area to try to familiarize myself with the kinds of existing development and the potential for development and what was going on in both areas. I met with a lot of community leaders. I gathered data from, again, from the Regional Planning Commission, from the Assessor's Office, from the County. I met with people in the County Plan[ning] Department. Yes, there was a lot of background work and a lot of field work done. R. at 1117. Judge Richards' finding is also supported by the testimony of William Leets. Leets acted as the Code Enforcement Officer for City of Hobart and served on the Board of Works and Public Safety; he formerly served on the Board of Zoning Appeals and on the Hobart City Council. R. at 2568-71. Leets' extensive testimony focused on maps and exhibits demonstrating the comparisons made by Hobart. R. at 2568-2749. The evidence clearly supports Judge Richards' finding that Hobart made the requisite comparisons, and the finding supports the conclusion that Hobart satisfied this element of the annexation statute.