Bloomington, Indiana – Bloomington’s housing shortage and business growth challenges may not begin with a construction site. In many cases, they begin much earlier, inside the city’s review and permitting system.
City leaders are now moving to simplify that path, arguing that clearer rules, faster coordination and more predictable decisions could help families build homes, businesses open their doors and employers invest with greater confidence.
The City of Bloomington commissioned American Structurepoint, an architecture and engineering firm, to conduct a broad audit of how development plans are submitted, reviewed and approved. The review covered active and completed applications, stakeholder sessions and interviews with staff across Planning and Transportation, Utilities, Engineering, Information & Technology Services and other departments.
Design professionals, builders, contractors, developers, local business owners and residents pursuing smaller projects also participated. Their experiences helped shape recommendations aimed at reducing confusion without weakening Bloomington’s development standards.
“My commitment to advancing housing and economic development demands we address every opportunity for improvement. The effects of permitting are impacting our ability to thrive as a city,” Mayor Kerry Thomson said.
Thomson said permitting can determine whether a family builds a home, whether a business expands and whether employers can recruit workers who are able to live locally. She stressed that reform is not a complete solution to Bloomington’s housing and economic pressures, but an important part of meeting broader community goals.
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The audit calls for fuller use of the city’s Electronic Permitting and Licensing system, which Information & Technology Services has already begun updating. It also recommends that departments review the same application at the same time, allowing conflicting instructions to be resolved before they reach applicants.
Other changes would require review comments to focus on code compliance and cite the relevant rules. Shared checklists, clearer staff responsibilities, stronger training and tracked review timelines are also recommended. The goal is to give applicants one coordinated response and a more dependable route from submission to decision.
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The changes would not alter what can be built, where development may occur or whether a specific application deserves approval. Those decisions will remain subject to adopted plans, city codes, public hearings and legal requirements.
Implementation will be led by Lynn Coyne, who is expected to serve as interim director of the Planning and Transportation Department after David Hittle’s July 10 departure for a position with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. If confirmed by the Plan Commission, Coyne will begin the role in July 2026.
Coyne said the work will require cooperation across departments, including close coordination with Utilities Director Katherine Zaiger and her team.
The full audit and its recommendations are available on the City of Bloomington website.
