[this page will be updated, last updated 2026-08-23]

Rabita Rajkarnikar, City Councilor District 2 (Democratic Party Caucus Appointee), is proposing to re-open the New Chauncey Neighborhood Plan again, with a vote tentatively taking place at the Tuesday September 8th 6:30pm City Council meeting.

What can you do? The neighborhood needs your help.

Be involved. What do you celebrate in New Chauncey? What would you like to see improved? What really burns you up?

Reach out to your neighbors and ask the same. Compile your ideas and reach out to New Chauncey Neighborhood Association to get connected with others.

At this moment, Councilor Rajkarnikar has not shared any specific amendments she will be proposing or supporting during this process, which makes our work, the neighbors of New Chauncey, even more critical to the success of our neighborhood.

What is a neighborhood plan?

A neighborhood plan is a development planning document that contains information (trees, sidewalk conditions, owner occupancy and rental ratio, etc.), goals, objectives, strategies, a zoning overlay, and narratives for each block of the neighborhood.

It’s an important strategic plan with a long history in New Chauncey.

The full 2013 plan can be read here.  If nothing else, read through the strategies starting on document page 43 / PDF page 49 and start to think of your own strategy updates and additions.  Talk about them with your family and neighbors. We are gathering these ideas to incorporate into the plan if the resolution goes forward.

If you weren’t living in New Chauncey during the creation of the 2013 plan (2009-2013), ask some neighbors or reach out if you want to learn more or have any questions.

History of Events that Lead up to Now

• Councilor Michelle Dennis left her elected position on August 4th, 2026 and the Democratic Party held a caucus to appoint a new member.
• Rabita Rajkarnikar and Katy Bunder both put their names in. Neighborhood members attended the caucus, spoke about their support for Katy Bunder. No members of the public spoke in favor of Rabita (who was not present due to an APC meeting [she was Mayor Easter’s appointment to the APC).
• The Precinct Committee Representatives voted 3 for Rabita and 1 for Katy.
  • I have to double check how many, but not all Precinct Committee Representatives live in the precincts they were representing which is allowed under Democrat Party rules if no one in those districts runs.
• Rabita Rajkarnikar was appointed to be the City Council District 2 representative on August 27th, 2025.
• Councilor Rajkarnikar proposed updating the New Chauncey Neighborhood Plan at the November 18th, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting.
  • [More details on this soon]
• Councilor Rajkarnikar proposed the resolution 26-2025 at the December 1st, 2025 City Council Meeting without engaging with the neighborhood about the plan. It was tabled at this meeting based on neighborhood leaders feedback.
• Councilor Rajkarnikar proposed a mildly amended version of resolution 26-2025 at the January 5th, 2026 City Council meeting. It was tabled again at this meeting based on neighborhood leaders feedback and the promise of a meeting to discuss.
• The Leadership Team, Councilor Rajkarnikar, and Mayor Easter met on January 22nd to discuss more. We continued discussions over email throughout February as well. The Leadership Team asked if there were any loose ends. No response. Until…
• Councilor Rajkarnikar sent an email to the New Chauncey Neighborhood Leadership Team on August 11th, asking to review the proposed language and provide any feedback by August 15th so the resolution could be placed on the September 8th City Council meeting agenda.
• The Leadership Team met on August 13th to discuss the resolution.
• A sub-committee of members wrote the follow up communication to Councilor Rajkarnikar and send it out to the Leadership Team.
• After review, an amendment was proposed to ensure the work sessions between the APC and West Lafayette City Staff were open to the public for observation was made. It was not adopted in a 3-2 vote.
• Zachary Baiel (Connolly Street) is continuing to push for this amendment to help guarantee the public’s right to know. More details below.

What will the updated plan accomplish?

What proposed amendments make their way back to the City Council for approval is still unknown. Councilor Rajkarnikar has not shared what specific amendments to the plan she would like to see. Nor has the Mayor. And nor have we as a neighborhood.

This is where you come in.

The current resolution language would allow for what?

The current proposed language will allow for the updating of objective data found in the plan:

• Historically Significant Structures Map, pg 15
• Existing (Historic) Land Use Map, pg 17 [original should be kept for historic purposes]
• Tippecanoe Population in Group Quarters/College Dorms Graph, pg 18
• New Chauncey Rental Inspection Properties Graph, pg 18
• Rental Occupancy and Ownership Map, pg 19
• Building Conditions Map, pg 22
• Street Trees Map, pg 24
• Parks, Paths, and Trails Map, pg 26
• Corridors and Gateways Map, pg 28
• Sidewalks and Transit Map, pg 30
• Street Lights and Alleys Map, pg 32
• Sewer Utilities Map, pg 34

Along with the possibility to propose amendments to the implementation section of the plan (pages 43-62) with “additional strategies, responsible parties, and timelines as needed to carry out the Plan’s existing goals and objectives”.

And this implementation section is the crucial part where we need neighbors to pay extra attention to.

Resolution 26-2025 Language History

Resolution 26-2025 has undergone two versions so far.  Here is the original.  And the first amended version.

The latest proposed version of the resolution will be available once the City Council September 8th 2026 agenda is posted by the Clerk’s office.

Below is the current working text being considered, including an amendment proposed, in bold, by Zachary Baiel (Connolly Street), to ensure the work sessions between the APC and City staff are observable by any member of the public:

This amendment shall focus on updating plan data and correcting outdated or erroneous references, and on updating the implementation section with additional strategies, responsible parties, and timelines as needed to carry out the Plan’s existing goals and objectives. Accomplishing this will not require the creation of a stakeholder steering committee but will primarily involve APC and West Lafayette professional staff, with meetings to be announced and held open to the public [for observation]. The process will be accompanied by public hearings as mandated by state statute. Once complete, the amendment shall come before the Area Plan Commission and the Common Council of the City of West Lafayette for approval.

We’ll update this section once more information becomes available.

Is there another amendment you would like to see? Share it with us or be ready to do so at the September 8th City Council meeting.

Thanks for reading. Help spread the word!