CARMEL, IN – Mayor Jim Brainard announced today he has appointed Chaka Coleman, a Carmel attorney and business lobbyist, to the Carmel Plan Commission to fulfill the term left vacant by Leo Dierckman who recently moved out of Carmel. Coleman will serve on the Commission until December 31, 2026.

The Carmel Plan Commission helps manage the City's growth and development and assists the Carmel City Council as it develops and updates City Ordinances, the Comprehensive Plan, the Thoroughfare Plan and other long-range plans. Primary areas of focus for the Plan Commission are planning for housing, transportation, neighborhood development, parks, commercial development and public facilities. Nine voting members serve on the Commission.

Coleman is a graduate of Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she earned her law degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. During law school Coleman was a summer clerk at the Indiana Court of Appeals and Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, she was a co-fellow in the IU McKinney Program on Law and State Government. She now represents clients on regulatory and legislative matters before the state legislature as a lobbyist. Drawing from more than a decade of public and private sector experience, she navigates legislative interests to protect the value of the organizations she represents, which includes companies from the energy, alcohol, gaming and healthcare industries.

Coleman enjoys living in Carmel with her family and serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations.

The Plan Commission meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Chambers of City Hall. In addition, each member of the Plan Commission, except the President, is a part of either the Commercial or Residential Committee. These committees meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the Caucus rooms of City Hall.