Per Indiana state law, the only issue that the Plat Committee may address is whether a proposed subdivision meets the requirements of subdivision regulations. Court rulings have established that Area Plan Commissions have, "... no discretion to approve some subdivision plats and disapprove others, but may only determine whether a plat presented to them comports with requirements of their subdivision ordinance." The courts have also ruled that: "Testimony of adjacent landowners at hearing on proposed subdivision plat is irrelevant in establishing whether plat complies with master plan, ordinances, and statutes."
Therefore, the Plat Committee cannot consider arguments concerning, for example, whether or not streets should be extended from adjacent subdivisions; whether the property should remain as is; and, be developed for some other purpose or developed to standards other than those specified by the Subdivision Ordinance. Further, the Plat Committee may not impose any specifications concerning style, type, size or cost of the structures to be built within the subdivision. If the proposed subdivision meets all of the requirements of the Subdivision Regulations, the Plat Committee must approve the subdivision.
A registered land surveyor must be involved in preparing, representing and certifying the plat.