Ask the Mayor

Why Does Our City Have So Many Banks and Fast Food Restaurants?

Imagine you’re driving down State Road 32. You pass a fast food place… then another… then a bank, and — yep — another fast food place. You might start to wonder: “Why are there so many of the same kinds of businesses around here? Doesn’t the city care about variety?”

It’s a common question. A lot of people think the city is the one choosing which businesses move in. But the truth is, that’s not really how it works.

The City Sets the Rules, Not the Businesses

Every city uses something called zoning. Think of zoning like a giant map of the city, split into different colored zones — one for houses, one for stores and restaurants, another for factories or warehouses. These zones help organize how land is used so that, for example, you don’t end up with a noisy factory right next to someone’s bedroom.

In areas marked commercial, businesses are allowed to open — but the city doesn’t decide which businesses show up. It just says, “Hey, if you’re a business that follows the rules, you can operate here.”

That’s where private companies come in.

Businesses Follow the Money

Fast food restaurants, banks, tire stores — they all look for places where they think they’ll make money. They study maps, traffic patterns, the number of people nearby, and even what their competitors are doing. If a certain intersection is busy and has lots of people driving by, you can bet businesses are taking notice.

And guess what? Fast food restaurants and banks love busy corners. They're looking for drive-thru access, parking, and a place where people will stop in quickly — or better yet, come back often.

So once one opens, others may follow. It’s not a mistake or a lack of planning — it’s actually a sign that businesses think the area is a hot spot.

Can the City Just Say “No” to More Fast Food?

Not really — at least, not just because people are tired of seeing them or there are too many. If a business follows the rules of the zoning code, and the building it wants to use is already approved for that type of business, the city usually can’t say no. That would be unfair — and possibly illegal.

Think of it like this: if you own a piece of land and the rules say you can build a store there, you’d be pretty upset if the city said, “Sorry, we don’t like your store idea. We already have too many like it.”

So What Can Residents Do?

This doesn’t mean communities are powerless. Residents can speak up during city planning meetings. They can work with local leaders to suggest updates to zoning rules — maybe encouraging more mixed-use spaces or creating incentives for different kinds of businesses.

It just takes time — and often, early involvement — to shape the way a community grows.

I know the city says they can’t stop fast food restaurants being built due to zoning rules but I find that interesting bc Carmel obviously doesn’t allow so many in one area. Why not Panera or Mcalisters anything but more fast food. It’s making the city look cheap and like a truck stop area.

Since taking office, we have been working hard to put measures in place to reduce fast food restaurants. For example, in a few of our recent PUDs, we have restricted development with drive through windows. However, keep in mind, with Grand Park as the centerpiece to our current economy, drive throughs make a lot of sense for the tourism that comes into our community, unlike Carmel.  With recent development approved in our downtown area, I am confident more sit-down restaurants are on the horizon, and it certainly has been a focus by my administration.

What is the City of Westfield doing about rental caps in neighborhoods?

The City of Westfield is aware of the growing interest in rental cap ordinances and the actions being taken by neighboring communities. At this time, we are closely monitoring those and taking a cautious, informed approach. Rather than rushing into an ordinance that could lead to unintended legal challenges, we are choosing to see how these ordinances play out. Our priority is to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions that find a balance between protecting the interests of our residents and property owners.

What is the How is the City addressing concerns about apartment development and preserving wooded areas?

Is Westfield at risk of running out of water as residential and industrial development continues?

Has Westfield considered enacting a "Riverfront" zone to allow for more liquor licenses to be issued? This would help non-chain restaurants and bars open without having to buy a license from a broker at a massive price increase.

We’ve heard from residents and business owners that the state quota system for alcohol permits can make it hard for independent restaurants and bars to open, since buying a license from a broker can be very expensive.

The City currently has two Riverfront Districts; our first Riverfront District was created in 2018 around Grand Junction Plaza and in December 2024, an additional district in the Grand Park area was added by City Council. 

These districts are possible because they are near named waterways, and they allow restaurants in those areas to apply for a liquor license directly through the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC), without being limited by the city’s quota.

Why is the city building parking garages?

Investing in downtown parking garages is actually a good thing for everyone who lives here or visits our city. Some people think parking garages are ugly or a waste of money, but they help our community in many ways.

First, parking garages make it easier for people to come downtown and spend time at local shops, restaurants, and events. If people know they can find a safe, easy place to park, they are more likely to visit instead of staying home or going somewhere else. This helps local businesses make more money and keeps our downtown busy and alive.

Structured parking is also important because it uses land much better than big open parking lots. A parking garage can hold a lot more cars in a smaller space. This means valuable downtown land can be used for better things like shops, restaurants, offices, homes, or even parks and green spaces. When we use land wisely, we make our city nicer and more welcoming for everyone.

Parking garages also help reduce traffic jams. When there aren’t enough parking spots, people drive around and around looking for one, which causes more traffic and more pollution. Garages take cars off the streets and put them in one place, so traffic moves better. Putting parking in one place makes downtown easier to walk around. Shared parking is also smart. For example, office workers park during the day, and then those same spaces can be used by people going to dinner or an event at night or on weekends.

A new parking garage can also help bring other good things downtown. When parking is easy, it’s easier to build new homes, offices, and shops. More people living and working downtown makes it safer and more fun. New garages can even help the environment with things like solar panels, plants on the roof, and charging stations for electric cars.

Not everyone can walk far from street parking, especially families with kids, older people, and visitors from out of town. Parking garages make sure downtown is open and easy for everyone to enjoy.

At the end of the day, parking garages aren’t just about cars — they’re about people. They help everyone enjoy what our downtown has to offer and keep our city strong and ready for the future.

Is the Grand Universe project at 191st Street and Tomlinson Road still moving forward?

What are those Fire 1 and Fire 2 signs?

They’re part of our water relay system, which helps firefighters in areas without fire hydrants nearby. Fire trucks carry 1,000 feet of hose, so when a hydrant is more than 900 feet away, we use these signs to help plan how to get water to a fire quickly and safely.

Here’s how it works:

 - The first engine lays hose from the fire sign to the scene.

 - The next engine connects to the hydrant and brings hose to meet the first engine.

 - If you see a Fire 2 sign, it means we’re 1,800 feet from the hydrant and need a third engine to help.

If the fire is even farther, our tanker truck can bring water from the hydrant to the fire.

These signs help us move water fast so we can protect people and property when every second counts!

What about some public parks and pavilions north of State Road32? I read about the 700+ acre development being planned north of 206th Street, but no mention of a public park and pavilion, only those private ones in the PUDs.

We have several parks north of State Road 32. They include Freedom Trail, Asa Bales, Woods Family Park and Trailhead (coming in 2026), and McGregor Park (this is a Westfield Washington Township park but on the edge of Westfield city limits and in our area of oversight). In addition, we just purchased approximately 40 acres near Casey Rd. and 186th St. for a future park.  There are a few other sites in our master plan that we have begun having conversations with landowners on, but any development would come a few years down the road. The new development referred to around Hortonville does have public amenities to include a park, lake for paddle boating, and a 14-mile network of trails.

When will there be a multipurpose path connecting South Union/Westfield Blvd east to Oakridge Rd on the north (or south side) of 161st Street?

Currently, we do have a multi-purpose path on the south side of 161st Street running from Union St. to Oakridge. However, we only have spotty connectivity on the north side. This is because there are several private landowners who have not redeveloped their land since the city started putting in paths. For us to put paths in the front of these residents’ yards, either the property owner would have to willingly sell land to the city, or we would need to eminent domain it. Eminent Domain is not something I am willing to do currently as it feels like a heavy-handed move for government to take private land for this. As we begin expanding our trails throughout the city, there is a plan to approach residents to gauge interest in selling a portion of their front yard for a path, but some may choose not to sell.

Does Westfield intend to continue adding to the trail network so that all neighborhoods would be able to connect to the Monon Trail? I’m personally interested in a Midland Trace equivalent for northeast Westfield (191st/Grassy Branch) region. 

Absolutely. As the city continues to grow, our goal is to expand our existing trail system and create new ones in the coming years. I view our trails as one of our greatest assets.

I see kids riding bikes to school every day in Carmel - why doesn’t Westfield have sufficient sidewalks to walk or ride bikes to nearby schools? There are NO sidewalks along 161st between Ditch and Shamrock Springs.

At this time, the City has decided to focus on higher-priority park projects, such as new sports fields, splash pads, and the development of an AgriPark, because these amenities serve the greatest number of residents.

Many dog owners in Westfield already have yards, and several neighborhoods, apartments, and housing developments also provide dog parks for their residents. Operating a public dog park requires ongoing staffing and maintenance, and right now, we don’t have the resources needed to manage it properly. Dog parks can also present some health and safety challenges, including the spread of parasites if not closely monitored.

That said, dogs are always welcome in our city parks as long as they are kept on a leash. Nearby public dog parks are located at Clay Terrace in Carmel and Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville.

What's the benefit of native plantings? I see them on US-31 and at Grand Junction Plaza. Are you sure they're not weeds?

Native plants are trees, grasses, and flowers that have grown naturally in Indiana for centuries. Because they are ideally suited to our climate and soil, they help restore and strengthen our local ecosystem. Native plantings create beautiful, resilient green spaces that provide food and shelter for pollinators, songbirds, and other wildlife that call Westfield home.

When we choose native species, we’re not just planting for today — we’re planting for the future. Native plants help clean our water by filtering storm runoff, prevent soil erosion, and reduce the need for extra watering and chemicals. This means our parks and trails stay healthy and vibrant with less maintenance and more benefits for everyone to enjoy.

Westfield’s native planting areas are a wonderful example of how we can balance growth with sustainability. By restoring areas with native species, we help preserve the natural character of our community while creating beautiful spaces for residents and visitors to explore. There are a number of areas around Westfield filled with natives, including along the Midland Trace Trail and at parks like Grand Junction Plaza, Asa Bales, Freedom Trail, and Simon Moon.

When will Westfield have an affordable indoor pickleball facility, especially for seniors during colder months?

Is Indiana in the process of or considering phasing out the 3% state tax on retirement? I recently moved here from Illinois after retiring from teaching, and I was surprised to find that I will be paying this tax on my retirement, which I would not have paid had I stayed in Illinois.

State legislatures determine income taxes in Indiana. As a result, I don’t have any visibility on this. I would recommend you reach out to State Representative Hunter Smith. He is the representative in Westfield and would have more details on this.

As Westfield continues to grow in population, I'm curious: what do you see as the upper limit for Westfield's population?

That’s something we’re exploring through our current comprehensive plan process, which will help us understand how to grow in a smart, sustainable way. While there is no set population cap, Westfield has nearly 56 square miles of combined incorporated and unincorporated land, which is more than Carmel’s 50 square miles, allowing for room to grow. The key is planning to ensure we maintain the quality of life our residents expect. Of course, existing property and landowners will ultimately have an impact on this, as they must be willing participants in growth.

Can you go into detail about what "DOGE-like" cost cuts you are making in city government to reduce the tax burden of citizens?

When I took office, I brought a business-minded approach to city budgeting by implementing zero-based budgeting, starting with the 2025 calendar year and continuing in all future budget cycles. Under this method, each department reset their budget to zero and rebuilt it from the ground up, justifying every dollar requested. This process uncovered outdated or unnecessary expenditures, such as nearly $1 million allocated to a defunct road project. By requiring departments to account for every expense, we've fostered smarter spending, increased accountability, and ensured that public funds are directed toward initiatives that directly impact our residents in a positive way.

Is the City considering a funding referendum to support Westfield Washington Schools?

What is the purpose of Flock cameras, and why is Westfield using them? Are they secure?

FLOCK cameras have been part of our city for many years and were installed prior to my time on City Council and now as Mayor.  As an advocate for freedom and limited government, this has always been a topic I have been torn on.  As Mayor, they have proven invaluable in catching criminals wandering in a city, and I know it specifically has resulted in a few arrests this year in Westfield involving felons (who weren’t residents of our city). I am 100% confident Flock has played a vital role in keeping Westfield one of the safest cities in America.

There is a lot of misinformation out there on what it does and what information we can extract from the cameras. It is a balancing act capitalizing on technology and I think we have taken advantage of the tool without being intrusive on individual rights and privacy.

Click here to view an FAQ sheet

Why does Westfield feel darker at night, and are there plans to add more street lighting?

The roundabout at 191st Street and US-31 North backs up regularly onto 31 and is extremely dangerous. What work is planned to improve this issue?
INDOT controls the off-ramps along US-31. However, our Public Works Department has been in discussions with INDOT about a change to this for nearly a year now.  We have a meeting scheduled with them in February 2026 to review a design change that will hopefully eliminate this issue. We are actively working on this problem.

When installing future roundabouts, would it be possible to include raised crosswalks? They increase safety by slowing traffic. I have a lot of issues while riding my bike and vehicles failing to yield/stop while I'm in the crosswalk.

Raised crosswalks are an excellent measure for slowing traffic and can be appropriate at certain intersections where speeds are reduced and the density of pedestrians exists. However, keep in mind that in other areas, RABs are in place to keep traffic flowing.  Yes, the city has been looking at raised crosswalk designs, and I would expect to see them in future designs, especially downtown. We will consider each case on a case-by-case basis.  

Could the need for a 3-way stop at 151st and Union Street be evaluated? It is still busy even though the 161st and Springmill roundabout has opened. Or it might be called Westfield Blvd south of 161st.

We are currently studying traffic patterns across our city, and this is an area we are closely monitoring.  Too early to say about a 3-way or RAB, as we still have key corridors shut down, such as SR-32, which have changed the traffic flow.  

Why did Westfield allow a new intersection on South Union Street, south of Brinkman Rd., with a stop sign instead of a roundabout? Is it because you like to spend millions of dollars redoing intersections into roundabouts instead of building them first to save taxpayers' dollars and horrible road closures in the future? This intersection forces everyone going South to stop and sit there just waiting for cars to signal their intent using turn signal at this intersection and it's only going to get worse as the new homes begin to fill up.

And as long as we are on the subject of roundabouts, to date, I've not seen any accidents in a roundabout in Westfield, but shouldn't the public and government have a discussion about what to do if there is a serious road closure due to an accident in a roundabout? People will be totally gridlocked. And along these lines of traffic in Westfield, South Union Street is only 20 mph to a point and then increases to 30, and I'd like to suggest you lower the speed limit to 20 further South on Union Street, all the way past the apartments on David Brown, and along David Brown from Westfield Blvd. This new construction on 32 has forced tens of thousands of drivers to detour through these residential streets en masse, and by lowering the speed limits to equal the 20 mph in central Westfield city proper, we residents who live and take walks around here will feel safer. This should be done too on 169th West of Oak Ridge Rd through to Spring Mill, as those neighbors do not deserve people driving in their residential neighborhood pushing 35 mph to 44, especially when many housing divisions do have 20 and 25 mph limits.

The decisions on S. Union St. related to RABs were made before I became mayor, so I can only address what was handed to me.  I will say that I think the city has been slow to build infrastructure. While I am mayor, I plan to proactively put in infrastructure like RABs that may not be needed on day one, but will be in the near future.  It will ultimately cost less to the taxpayer and will prevent additional detours related to construction.

The plan is to reduce the speed on Union Street from SR-32 to 161st St. to 20 MPH. However, we are waiting on Westfield Blvd to be completed from David Brown to 161st first. Once this happens, we will put in safety measures to slow traffic on Union.  Our goal is for Union to become a local street, not a main thoroughfare.

Why do I receive a stormwater bill if I have my own well, septic system, or retention pond?

Is anything being done to improve visibility and traffic safety at the intersection of Union and 171st Street?

The roundabout at 191st Street and US- 31 frequently backs up onto the highway. What is being done to address this?

What are the plans to improve 191st Street east of US-31 as development continues?

What is the status of the 151st Street trail extension between Bridlewood and Oak Road?