FORTVILLE — A developer has tabled a proposal for a new neighborhood that’s drawn opposition from residents and planning authorities and intends to come back with changes to the project.
Indianapolis-based Arbor Homes was pursuing a subdivision of 317 single-family homes on about 112 acres at the northeast corner of Fortville Pike and County Road 850N. The developer had expressed a desire to have the neighborhood annexed into town.
Arbor Homes had wanted to rezone the property to a planned unit development, which, if approved, would permit development to proceed under standards Arbor Homes and town officials agree to. Many of the standards Arbor Homes wanted didn’t align with the town’s planned unit development standards, however, and the Fortville Plan Commission voted to send a negative recommendation on the proposal to the town council.
The council was slated to hold its first vote on the topic earlier this week, until learning Arbor Homes wanted to take at least part of its proposal back to the drawing board.
Some of the misgivings Fortville planning authorities had over Arbor Homes’ initial proposal were vinyl siding, the size of side yard setbacks and curb styles. Town residents also expressed concerns over standards, as well as the impact the neighborhood would have on traffic in the area.
Adam Zaklikowski, Fortville planning and building director, said he’s looking forward to seeing the changes.
“Supposedly the revisions will address concerns from the plan commission and staff,” he said. “We will take a look at those revisions when they come in and determine how to process it. Depending on the amount of changes, it may necessitate going back to the plan commission for review.”
Fritz Fentz, Fortville town council president, said the town has high building standards for a good reason.
“The problem with Fortville is we can only move south,” he said of the town’s potential future growth. “We’re landlocked, so… our standards have to be a little bit higher, just because we don’t have that much ground.”
An Arbor Homes representative familiar with the project did not return a request for comment.
