<p>A new Bargersville neighborhood would allow homeowners to keep and ride horses.</p>
<p>Last week, the Bargersville Town Council unanimously approved rezoning a 135-acre property on the northwest side of the town for a 35-home neighborhood, along with an eight-acre common area with a pasture and stables. The neighborhood, to be named Travis Creek Estates, would be west of Mullinix Road, between Stones Crossing and Travis roads, according to documents filed with the town.</p>
<p>Daniel Fruits, who owns Travis Creeks Stables west of the proposed neighborhood, purchased the property initially as a way of preventing the development of a high-density neighborhood. He and his neighbors didn’t want that type of neighborhood to come to what is a more rural part of Bargersville, he said.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>Instead, he wanted to see the land developed with something that will fit well with his facility and the existing homes in the area, Fruits said.</p>
<p>The equestrian-themed neighborhood would allow residents to keep their own horses on their properties, Fruits said. Residents could also keep their houses at nearby Travis Creek Stables, Fruits said.</p>
<p>“We wanted to establish something that is unique, innovative and new to the market down here,” Fruits said.</p>
<p>Construction of the homes, which will be priced at $500,000 and above, is planned to begin next spring. About a dozen people have already expressed interest in purchasing lots, Fruits said.</p>
<p>The proposed neighborhood would fit well in the area, which one of the most rural parts of Bargersville with mostly farmland and larger-lot sizes, planning director Julie Young said.</p>
<p>The homes would have an average lot size of about three acres, with properties ranging from two-and-a-half to five acres in size. Single-story homes would be at least 2,500 square feet, and two-story homes would be at least 3,000 square feet. And the developer has committed to not using any vinyl siding, Young said.</p>
<p>Eight acres of the property will be set aside as a common area for stables and for horses to graze. Another 15 acres are being set aside for future equestrian-related commercial development, which could include an event center or additional stables, Fruits said.</p>
<p>Before any commercial development could be built, it would need to first be approved by the town, he said.</p>
