HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-0922; Carol Schleif, Part 2ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
General Comments:
This document is approximately the same size as our current
comp plan….wasn’t one of our goals to make it smaller?
Remove comments regarding specific parcels, especially
residential subdivisions & PUDs.
Remove editorial comments & arguments in the objectives….just
list them
Remove overlay & zoning items
Remove design guidelines information, but state that we need
them for design review purposes.
Remove “Traditional Neighborhood Design”…just say what is
desired.
Use another word than “Traditional”…it has more than one
meaning with regard to planning.
Because of the structure adopted in this plan, there is an
inordinate amount of repetition. For example, if an issue is
a City-Wide issue, don’t restate it in each area of the
City/Township.
Remove as many adjectives and adverbs as possible. They
create loopholes that require definitions.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ESSENCE INTRODUCTION
Part 2: Comprehensive Plan Essence establishes the City's
planning policies and objectives categorized by geographic
area. Although there are many similarities in each district there
are also significant differences. This approach will clearly
communicate and guide the public and its leaders in future
decision making and share with the development community
the City's policies and objectives. Further, the public can base
their expectations on the content of this Part.
Merriam-Webster defines essence as "the most significant
element, quality, or aspect of a thing or person." For this reason,
the term "essence" was chosen for Part 2's title to convey the
content within contained the core policies and objectives for the
City of Carmel.
To address each geographic area, this Part is divided into the
following fi ve sections:
1. City-Wide Policies and Objectives ..............pg 17
2. East Carmel Policies and Objectives ..........pg 22
3. North Central Carmel Policies
and Objectives ............................................pg 23
4. South Central Carmel Policies
and Objectives ............................................pg 24
5. West Carmel Policies and Objectives .........pg 25
Make Policy heading more prominent in the following pages (larger size? Bolder?)
16 CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ESSENCE
CITY-WIDE POLICIES AND
OBJECTIVES
This document is the same size as the 2020
plan. Objectives/goals could be condensed to
one sentence each (pullet pointed) Policy 1:
Manage Community Form Introduction:
Managing community form is the art and science of
influencing development in a manner that results in a
superior quality built and natural environment. .
The tools used to manage community form take shape such
as guidelines, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations,
building codes, studies, , , commitments, conditions,
covenants, redevelopment initiatives, and policies.
Managing community form, rather than only uses allow for
diversity in building types, and promoting greater
sensitivity to transitions between differing land
classifications as listed below.
Objective 1.1: Merge form-based regulatory tools into the
existing zoning and subdivision control ordinances based on
Part 3: Land Classification Plan.
Objective 1.2: Recognize the uniqueness in each planning
district and establish regulations, subarea plans, and design
guidelines.
Objective 1.3: (Isn’t this a given?)
Objective 1.4: Be very sensitive to connectivity and
transitions between adjacent areas. Discourage harsh
contrasts in height, building orientation, character, land use,
and density. If there exists contrast, utilize multiple design
principles to soften transitions to preserve sun rights, views,
privacy, and real estate values of existing property owners.
Objective 1.5: promote mixed use only in commercial
developments, and protect residential areas from (vague)
commercial development as stated in Objective 1.4.
Objective 1.6: Identify single-family neighborhoods
that are not subject to redevelopment to promote long-
term predictability and stability. (How about the other
way around?)
Objective 1.7: Continue to build & acquire the city park
and trail system throughout the township. .
Objective 1.8: . (Isn’t this a given?)
Policy 2: Be a Leading Edge City Introduction:
Our area is a leading edge city because we have, a positive
image, diversity in housing, broad range of employment,
corporate vitality, strong architectural presence and
character, sense of place, a growing health and
environmental awareness, public transportation (soon,
hopefully!), and most importantly a desirable quality of life.
Objective 2.1: Commit to high architectural energy
efficient and environmental design standards for all
buildings. (fewer words)
Objective 2.2: Further enhance the amenities, development
opportunities, office-supporting commerce and technology
infrastructure necessary to support current businesses and to
attract additional corporations to Carmel Because a high
quality of life is a major attraction for buisinesses, this is a
primary (or “major”?) objective. (fewer words)
Objective 2.3 (Public survey and demand analysis of
current housing needs to be done first. We have a full range
of diversity now)
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Objective 2.5: Enhance a bicycle- and pedestrian-connected
community through expanded installation of side paths,
sidewalks, bike lanes, and off-street trails (fewer words)
Objective 2.6: Recognize the existing limitations of
east/west vehicular, bike, and pedestrian access and strive
to enhance means for efficient cross-community travel.
Policy 3: Perpetuate Economic Vitality
Introduction: Vitality is defined in many ways, including
job growth, quantity of jobs, quality of jobs, proliferation of
commerce, entrepreneurship, investment in property,
redevelopment, length of commitment, and degree of risk
being taken. (fewer words)This section addresses the
objectives that Carmel will utilize to perpetuate economic
vitality.
Objective 3.1: Continue to promote Carmelas a great place
to live, work and raise a family (fewer words)
Objective 3.2: Encourage mixed-use developments in
commercial areas where appropriate. (fewer words)
Objective 3.3: Encourage owners through zoning
amendments to retrofit existing single-use commercial
centers into mixed-use centers. (not desirable everywhere)
Objective 3.4:. Expand existing lines of communication to
reach more households and gain more public input.. (fewer
words)
Objective 3.5(Streamline more? Where?) (Already in place)
18 CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
Objective 3.6: Plan for local and regional transit by
encouraging transit opportunities in new developments
(fewer words)
Objective 3.7: Promote the advancement of technology to
support city-wide commerce, the workplace, and home
enterprise. (Combine with 3.4)
Objective 3.8: (needed? Put in 3.4?)
Objective 3.9: Promote Carmel as a Regional Performing
Arts Center with properly scaled buildings and infrastructure
for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. (fewer words)
Objective 3.10: build upon the economic benefits of the US
31 Corridor by further maximizing its development potential
as well as protecting existing residential neighborhoods in
the corridor. Encourage new buildings to be constructed of
high quality and encourage parking areas to be structured for
the most efficient use of land in the corridor.
Policy 4: Be a City of Neighborhoods Introduction:
Neighborhoods are an essential component of community
which helps build and/or reinforce the fabric of a city.Do we
really need this section/Policy?(Not true. They were called
“additions” by residents throughout the city.)(some were,
and some weren’t). This is very misleading…”traditional”
means different things to planners than to the public (survey
needed)
Objective 4.1: (need the survey before this can be said)
Objective 4.2: The City believes it necessary to conduct
planning in greater detail in critical subareas and corridors.
(See Part 5: Critical Corridors and Subareas)
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(duplication)Objective 4.3: (I disagree).(need the survey)
Objective 4.4: Build upon existing neighborhood facilities
and services, such as parks, schools, fire stations, and
churches
Objective 4.5encourage "third places" such as informal
meeting places and neighborhood support centers in
appropriate locations. The City should embark on a "corner
store" initiative to define the best locations and distribution
of neighborhood support centers and include public input.
(This is an implementation item….should it be in the comp
plan?)
Objective 4.6: Disallow incompatible site and building
designs and excessive quantity of neighborhood support
centers. Assure that neighborhood support centers , respect
nearby residences with quality architecture, landscaping,
and appropriate transitions that preserve views, solar access,
property values, and privacy of existing residential areas,
and assure that they are not a destabilizing. (fewer words)
Policy 5: Be an Adaptable City Introduction:
What does adatibility have to do with Health, Safety &
Welfare? Are we not already adaptable? Isn’t that why
we have a plan commission?
(this is opinion & speculation) (needed in the comp plan?
we do this anyway)
(needed in the comp plan? we do this anyway)
(needed in the comp plan? we do this anyway)
CARMEL CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 19
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Objective 5.4: Enhance the Monon Greenway to support
and further encourage its use as a non-motorized commuter
route by widening and separating bicyclists and pedestrians
in the most heavily used areas. Also, actively plan and
implement a system of feeder/branch trails and paths to
allow more convenient and safe connection to nearby
residential and employment areas. . Could this objective be
moved to Policy 7?
(duplication)Objective 5.6: Target for future park sites.
Objective 5.7: Recognize the movement toward sustainable
development and architecture. Promote land developments
and building designs that use or reuse land responsibly by
(too late for that here), conserving potable water, reducing
energy consumption, and utilizing reusable or recyclable
materials. Encourage architects and designers to use LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or
similar standards to promote sustainable and healthful
buildings and neighborhoods for. Could this objective be
moved to Policy 7?
Policy 6: Inspire Community Character and
Health-Conscious Deisign. Introduction: Community
character is the quality(ies) and feature(s) of a
neighborhood, district, or the entire community that
distinguish it from other areas. Community character is
desired and often helps build local pride, encourages
investment, and improves quality of life.
Objective 6.1: Discourage homogeneous development and
corporate brand prototypical architecture. In residential
areas, architectural guidelines should be instituted to
discourage monotonous development. Commercial and
residential areas should be subjected to architectural
standards that require unique and appropriate designs fi
tting Carmel's character goals.
Objective 6.2: Promote a unique community with unique
neighborhoods and subareas. (opinion) The community will
identify appropriate character goals, subareas, and
neighborhood boundaries for the East, North Central, South
Central, and West Carmel Districts. (survey)
Objective 6.3: Encourage high quality and well designed
landscaping to help beautify the City and promote healthful
environments.
Objective 6.4: Promote the planting and care of canopy
trees throughout Carmel.. (fewer words)
Objective 6.5: Promote the use of public art in both public
spaces and within private developments.
Objective 6.6: Enable healthy environments
throughdesigning structures to capture natural light and air.
(fewer words)
Objective 6.7: Encourage electrical utility lines to be buried
throughout the community.(don’t need to justify this)(do we
need to say this in the comp plan?)
Objective 6.8: Protect the character, safety and function of
the Monon Greenway.
(zoning issue)Policy 7: Inspire Environmental Awareness and
Health-conscious Design Introduction: Being
environmentally aware includes understanding the benefits
of protecting natural areas, emphasizing use of native plant
material into the urban environment, reducing energy
consumption, encouraging energy and natural resource
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Objective 7.2: Continue the policy emphasizing that City
vehicles be energy efficient and low emission cars and
trucks(fewer words – too detailed for a comp plan)
Objective 7.3: Develop a bicycle network and ensure that
adequate bicycling facilities exist to allow safe and efficient
bicycle commuting. (fewer words)
Objective 7.4: The City should encourage use of water-saving
devices, through such things as proper ("smart") lawn
sprinkling and exploring alternative and Encouraging rainwater
(greywater) recycling .
Objective 7.5: Strongly encourage the construction of
environmentally sensitive buildings, following LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines.
(fewer words)
Objective 7.6: Set the precedent for environmental protection
or re-vegetation when developing municipal facilities like
parks, fire stations, and maintenance facilities.
Objective 7.7: Continue to protect regional surface and ground
water sources (fewer words)(isn’t this covered elsewhere?)
Objective 7.8: Set the precedent for environmentally sensitive
buildings when developing municipal facilities by striving for
the highest feasible level of LEED certification. (merge w/ 7.5
?)
Objective 7.9: Develop and maintain an Environmental
Action Plan to implement actions that reduce pollution,
conserve energy, and preserve the natural environment.
Objective 7.10: Explore the use of alternate sources of energy
such as active solar, geothermal, and wind.
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
EAST CARMEL POLICIES AND
OBJECTIVES
Introduction
The following sections convey the policies and objectives
for the East Carmel District. It is important to note that
these sections share some of the same policy headings as
the City-Wide section, but the content is specific to East
Carmel.
Policy 1: Manage Community Form
Objective 1.1: Protect the integrity of the suburban form
and land uses. East Carmel is an area where redevelopment
of residential districts is discouraged, and where investment
in single-family homes is strongly encouraged. The City
will identify projects, policies, and programs that will
maintain the existing stability and encourage investment by
homeowners.
Objective 1.2: Support and encourage neighborhood
support nodes in context appropriate areas. that allow
limited neighborhood-serving commercial, mixed-use, and
public amenities within walking distance to residents living
in surrounding suburban neighborhoods. (zoning
item)(fewer words)
Policy 2: Be a Leading Class Edge City Objective 2.1:
Embrace the White River greenway and off-street trail to
provide another notable linear park and non-motorized
transportation corridor which connects parks as well as
acting as the foundation for a larger, regional greenway.
(fewer words).
Objective 2.2: Unique uses or a combination of uses should
be designed into the context of the natural environment and
surrounding suburban development. (fewer words)(don’t
list individual projects in the comp plan)
Policy 3: Inspire Community Character
Objective 3.1: Reinforce suburban character including tree-
lined curvilinear streets, sidewalks separated by tree lawns,
and neighborhood parks. Also, maintain the dominant
presence of high quality single-family residential form.
Objective 3.2: encourage context sensitive buffer
development along these corridors to help soften the visual
impact to lower density residential neighborhoods. (fewer
words)
Objective 3.3: (too specific for the comp plan until we
have determined that this is needed). Determine potential
community transit stop locations with input from existing
property owner stakeholders
Policy 4: Inspire Environmental
Awareness
Objective 4.1: Aggressively protect the riparian corridor
and
floodplain along the White River from encroachment.
Objective 4.2: Continually monitor mining practices to
ensure balance between the legitimate needs of the resident
and regional need for local materials. Also, encourage
reclamation planning for quarry sites to better coordinate
public facilities and infrastructure improvements, and public
recreation or residential opportunities.
Objective 4.3: Expand East Carmel bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure, especially in areas adjacent to institutional
nodes such as schools and churches, and neighborhood-
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
NORTH CENTRAL CARMEL
POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES
Introduction
The following sections convey the policies and objectives
for the North Central Carmel District. It is important to note
that these sections share some of the same policy headings
as the City-Wide section, but the content is specific to North
Central Carmel.
Policy 1: Manage Community Form
Objective 1.1: Encourage compact urban form and mixed-
use
development in select areas that do not adversely affect
property values of existing residential neighborhoods. (this
is up to plan commission)
Objective 1.2: Allow the tallest structures in Carmel to be
in the City Center and along U.S. 31..(zoning issue) (Has
there been talk of going higher?)
Objective 1.3: Enhance neighborhood and community-
serving commercial nodes in strategic locations to allow
people to walk or bike from their jobs and homes to
neighboring communities, city amenities, commercial
developments and parks. (fewer words)
Objective 1.4: Protect stable single-family residential
neighborhoods in North Central Carmel through buffering,
use of transitional design techniques (eg.. privacy, light and
air issues), strong code enforcement of property
maintenance issues, targeted infrastructure investments (e.g.
drainage, sidewalks, and street lights), parks and
landscaping beautification projects.
Objective 1.5: Strive for additional street connectivity (See
Thoroughfare Plan).
Objective 1.6: Encourage connectivity to and through North
Central Carmel by establishing bicycle and pedestrian
facilities across Meridian Street and Keystone
Parkway.(move to a City-wide policy??)(merge with 1.5?)
Policy 2: Be a LeadingClass Edge City
Objective 2.1: Establish a vital downtown. with residential
and office uses on upper floors. (isn’t this an overlay item?)
(fewer words)
Objective 2.2: Promote a employment corridor and
technology park along U.S. 31 by discretely integrating
employment-serving commercial uses in existing buildings
or in small nodes to allow workers to walk to restaurants and
other businesses suitable for such a sub-district. Also allow
for a broader mix of uses, including additional residential
and service retail.
Objective 2.3: Encourage new buildings along Carmel
Drive and City Center Drive to be a minimum of two stories
in height. (okay, but this is an Overlay item – not comp plan)
Objective 2.4: (Comp plan item????)
Objective 2.5: Plan for the integration of transit stops near
City Center, Merchants Square, and the U.S. 31 corridor.
(City-Wide item ???)
Objective 2.6: Explore opportunities to introduce additional
higher education opportunities into North Central
Carmel.(what is this ????)
Objective 2.7: Promote and enhance the Monon Greenway
as a non-motorized transportation corridor. Widen the trail in
high used areas to accommodate separated bicycle and
Facilities at the Housing Hazardous Waste Center to make it
more convenient. (fewer words) (less detail)
CARMEL CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 23
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
SOUTH CENTRAL CARMEL
POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES
Introduction
The following sections convey the policies and objectives
for South Central Carmel. It is important to note that these
sections share some of the same policy headings as the City-
Wide section, but the content is specifi c to South Central
Carmel.
Policy 1: Manage Community Form
Objective 1.1: Allow the careful redevelopment of existing
neighborhood support nodes and the advancement of Home
Place's commercial area to better serve the South Central
neighborhoods as well as the employment corridor along I-
465.
Objective 1.2: Protect and enhance the integrity of single-
family residential neighborhoods in South Central Carmel
through code enforcement of property maintenance issues,
targeted infrastructure investments (e.g. sidewalks and
drainage), and beautification projects.
Objective 1.3: Strive for additional street, bicycle and
pedestrian connectivity in South Central Carmel.
Objective 1.4: These are existing areas. The new
developments that surround this area should do the
transitioning.
Objective 1.5: Areas adjacent to existing single family
residential should not exceed five units per acre and two
stories in height.
Policy 2: Be a Leading Edge City
Objective 2.1: Encourage reinvestment and maintenance of
strong residential areas, so as to discourage redevelopment.
(City-wide policy???)
Objective 2.2: Promote an employment corridor along U.S.
31 and I-465 and utilize zoning overlays, parks and
parkways to help buffer strong residential areas.
Objective 2.3: Strive for bicycle and pedestrian facilities to
be installed throughout the South Carmel district, and
connectivity to Central Park and Monon Center. (City-wide
policy???)
Objective 2.4: Plan for the integration of a transit stop near
the intersection of 96th Street and Keystone Parkway.
Policy 3: Be a City of Neighborhoods
(needed?)
Objective 3.1: South Central Carmel should be planned as
a collection of neighborhoods applying the principles of
connectivity, transitions,
and bicycle and pedestrian facilities would benefit this
district . (already stated this before)
Objective 3.2: Endeavor to plan neighborhoods, gateways,
boundaries, and service areas through more detailed subarea
plans. . (already stated this before)
Policy 4: Inspire Community Character
Objective 4.1: Protect the existing character of the strong
single family neighborhoods in South Central Carmel.(what
is strong?)
Objective 4.2: Protect the residential character along
Keystone Parkway and Westfield Boulevard, and maintain
these corridors' existing tree canopies as part of an overall
urban forest network.
Objective 4.3: Superseded buffer standards that Require
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WEST CARMEL POLICIES AND
OBJECTIVES
Introduction
The following sections convey the policies and objectives
for West Carmel. It is important to note that these sections
share some of the same policy headings as the City-wide
section, but the content under each heading is specific to
West Carmel and adds to other city-wide objectives.
Policy 1: Manage Community Form
Objective 1.1: Preserve the estate character of West
Carmel by protecting large-lot residential areas and by
requiring new subdivisions to have large setbacks from and
quality landscaping along perimeter roads. Further, require
extensive re-vegetation along perimeter roads and within
each new development. A larger open space requirement
should also be considered.
Objective 1.2: Enhance existing neighborhood support
nodes in context with or adjacent to appropriate areas.(need
a survey first). (we already do this)
Objective 1.3: Conservation subdivisions and innovative
residential community designs that protect vegetation,
slopes and are non-monotonous in terms of architecture
and material selection are preferred.
Objective 1.4: (we already do this, City-wide)
Policy 2: Be a Leading Edge City
Objective 2.1: (West Clay is more diversity in income
levels than any other area of Carmel. This makes it seem
like we all live on estates)
Objective 2.2: Encourage more custom home
developments (guidelines issue, mentioned previously).
(zoning issue)
Objective 2.3: Adopt residential architecture
standards to ensure compatibility, a high quality
aesthetic, energy efficiency, and durability.(City-wide
policy???)
Policy 3: Inspire Community Character
Objective 3.1: Reinforce rural character including tree lines,
fence rows, barns, pockets of open space, and preservation
of wood lots. (need the survey)
Objective 3.2: Protect single-family residential character all
major streets.
Objective 3.3:.(overlay item, we’re already doing this)
Objective 3.4: (zoning item)
Policy 4: Inspire Environmental Awareness Objective 4.1:
Strive to protect wood lots, wetlands, and other valuable
natural features that contribute to the district's rural
character, and provide habitat for plants, birds, and other
animals.
Objective 4.2: (survey)
Policy 5: Stimulate Connectivity
Objective 5.1:(stated before)(This is a lecture & not
appropriate for the comp plan).
Objective 5.2: Build bike and pedestrian paths along major
roads and through parks. . Though West Carmel has several
pipeline corridors, some might be used for bike and
pedestrian paths, but others are not accessible for this
purpose. (See Thouroughfare Plan).
Objective 5.3: Carmel should partner with neighboring
Westfield and Zionsville to plan and implement a significant
ESSENCE PART 2: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
26 CITY OF CARMEL, INDI
greenway along Little Eagle Creek.
Objective 5.4: Continue expansion of bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure to connect neighborhoods with
schools, parks, West Clay Secondary Core, and other
destinations. (merge with 5.2 ?)
CARMEL CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 25
significant numbers and sizes of canopy trees to be planted
after development to maintain the substantial tree canopy
that gives character to the South Central Carmel district and
urban forest.(This should be city-wide wherever canopies
like Westfield Blvd exist) (Mike, Can we re-evaluate the
buffer requirements?????)
Policy 5: Inspire Environmental Awareness Objective 5.1:
protect the Monon Greenway's tree-lined corridor and
environmental features on the Central Park site.
Objective 5.2: Require existing mature trees in the
district to be preserved during development and
redevelopment as part of an overall urban forest
network.
24 CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
pedestrian lanes to create more trail capacity for both
recreation and transportation needs. (do City-Wide??)
Policy 3: Be a City of Neighborhoods (not needed)
Objective 3.1: North Central Carmel should be planned as a
collection of neighborhoods with connectivity, transitions,
location of neighborhood-serving commercial, bicycle- and
pedestrian-friendly features, and the like.(we’ve already said
this)
Objective 3.2: Endeavor to plan neighborhoods, gateways,
boundaries, and service areas through more detailed subarea
plans. (we’ve already said this)
Policy 4: Inspire Community Character
Objective 4.1: Where appropriate, reinforce urban character
in
North Central Carmel.. Commission a study of the district to
determine the ideal boundaries, urban patterns, and
transitions.
Objective 4.2: Encourage signature buildings on prominent
sites to enhance the district's character(zoning issue)
Objective 4.3: Establish a Public Art Master Plan. (of
course, but not a comp plan issue)
Policy 5: Inspire Environmental Awareness
Objective 5.1: Where possible, locate new public parks on
land adjacent to or within a short walk from the Monon
Greenway.
Objective 5.2: Tree areas should be conserved and
should be evaluated as part of an overall urban forest
network, especially in small parks and squares.
Objective 5.3(already said this).
Objective 5.4: Continue to enhance the City Recycling
serving commercial.
Objective 4.4: Establish an East Carmel recycling and
hazardous materials drop-off station in conjunction with the
City's sewage treatment facility. (move to Ctiy-wide
policies?)
Objective 4.5: Locate an East Carmel satellite facility for
Carmel Street Maintenance and other public services. This
will help conserve fuel and distribute manpower more
equally over the community. (move to Ctiy-wide policies?)
22 CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
conservation, and utilizing "green" building materials to
lessen our impact on the environment.
Objective 7.1: Encourage the use of durable materials and
construction methods that prolong the life of buildings to
100 years..(opinion)
20 CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA
Objective 2.4: Support local intra-city and regional
commuter transit systems as described in Part 4:
Transportation Plan. (fewer words)(Best place to show
commercial uses would be on the use map)
CARMEL CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 17