After missing the mark last month, a proposed 347-home development near The Legends Golf Club was forwarded to the Franklin City Council with a favorable recommendation.
Forestar Group Inc., an Arlington, Texas-based residential developer, wants to annex and rezone 130 acres north of the Heritage subdivision on Hurricane Road to two different classifications of residential zoning with commitments. The property is located across Hurricane Road from the golf course.
The northside of the subdivision, dubbed The Highlands, would be zoned R-2 to accommodate estate homes from $330,000 to more than $400,000, while the southside of the subdivision would be zoned R-3 for smaller homes from $285,000 to $336,000, said Melissa Garrard of Forestar Group.
With two lot sizes, the development is envisioned as a transition between lower-value homes to the south and estate-level homes to the north, she said.
The Franklin Plan Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved of the rezoning after split votes of 5-4 and 4-5 last month stalled the development. An annexation for the land passed last month by a 7-2 vote.
New information that was not available last month was presented to the commission Tuesday, including the announcement that DR Horton, an Arlington, Texas-based home builder, had signed on to the project.
Garrard presented several DR Horton home styles that are already being built elsewhere in the county, including in the Pleasant Valley subdivision in White River Township, and the Saddlebrook Farms and Highland Knoll subdivisions in Bargersville. Example homes were listed for sale at prices between $300,000 and $550,000.
About 143 homes in the development would be sold at “premium prices,” either because the lot is larger than others in the development or because the home has a water view, Garrard said.
The homes would be at least 50% brick and include fine-gauge vinyl siding, she said.
Neighbors again opposed the proposed development, citing concerns about the value of the homes and quality of materials, when compared to nearby large-lot estate homes.
One neighbor, Sharon Acton, asked Forestar to consider placing common areas that would generate noise at the interior of the development to not bother the neighbors.
Gerrard said Forestar has plans to coordinate with neighbors on appropriate vegetation to provide a barrier on the southside of the development, which would abut several homes. Since the southside of the development is bisected by a Duke Energy easement, it is not likely any noise-generating amenities, such as a playground, could be placed there, she said.
The proposal is headed to the city council for approval. The council will have a public hearing at its Sept. 7 meeting, with official action set for Oct. 4.
