Bargersville Plan Commission turned down a proposal to build this Arbor Homes neighborhood on Two Cent Road.
Bargersville officials turned down a proposal from Arbor Homes to build more than 100 houses on Two Cent Road.
Arbor Homes made some adjustments to the layout of the development based on direction from the Bargersville Plan Commission last month.
Adjustments included replacing a street section that would have connected East Street and South Avenue to Two Cent Road, and adding neighborhood amenities, said Caitlin Dopher, of Arbor Homes. The developer lowered the number of homes to be built by two to 106, she said.
However, the changes were not enough to win the commission’s approval this month.
The commission heard from several neighbors to the development and a farmer who uses Two Cent Road to get to his field. They brought up concerns about the density of the development, drainage, traffic and the potential loss of small-town charm.
Commission members expressed concerns as well about the density and traffic, as well as a lack of active, usable green space.
The updated plan included a playground and shelter house that would have included picnic tables and a grill, but commission members thought there should be more public space. They suggested Arbor cut out a few more homes to accommodate that, but Dopher said cutting out more homes would not be feasible.
Dopher was also asked to address a statement she made last month that inferred Arbor Homes’ higher-end Silverthorne product wouldn’t sell on that property because it is part of the Franklin school district. She clarified that the reason Silverthorne would not work there had to do with the market and size of the property compared to the size of a lot needed to build a Silverthorne home.
A separate Arbor Homes proposal to build 160 Silverthorne homes on a 69-acre property on State Road 135, across from the Bargersville Community Fire Department, is still on the table.
The proposed neighborhood, dubbed Highland Park, comes with a 1.25-mile trail, dog park, pocket park, picnic area and wetland preservation area, plans show. The proposal to rezone that land will be up for review by the Bargersville Town Council next month.
