A conceptual plan for a townhome complex by Ohio-based Redwood Living Inc. in Whiteland. The complex would be located on Whiteland Road just west of U.S. 31.
The Whiteland Town Council voted unanimously to approve a rezone for a 153-unit townhome complex and commercial space at the Whiteland Road and U.S. 31 intersection.
Ohio-based Redwood Living Inc. asked the town of Whiteland to rezone 40.45 acres of commercial-zoned land to a Planned Unit Development, or PUD. The empty land sits just south of Whiteland Road, behind Brew House Liquors, between U.S. 31 and Maple Street in Whiteland.
Redwood’s conceptual plans for the PUD include building a complex with up to 165 townhome-style multi-family units. Conceptual plans presented by Redwood show designs for 153 units at the moment, but they are limited to building no more than 165.
Redwood’s unit design resembles a single-family home, with single-story floor plans, attached garages and private entrances with dedicated street addresses. These units are expected to be priced between $1,600 and $2,000 a month, said Russell Brown, an attorney representing Redwood.
Impact on the Clark-Pleasant Community School Corp. is also expected to be minimal, as the townhomes are marketed mostly to young professionals and empty-nesters looking to downsize, Brown said. Redwood estimated there would be approximately seven children for every 100 units in the complex.
Carmen Young, planning director for the town, spoke with Patrick Spray, the school’s superintendent, and she said he was not concerned about the impact on the school district, given the townhomes are marketing mostly to people without children.
Most Redwood residents also tend to already be community members who maybe had a house in town and downsized to an apartment, Brown said. According to data collected from Redwood’s other properties, most residents moved from within three miles, he said.
The apartment complex would occupy 34 of the 40 acres of land, with a commercial area planned on six acres along Whiteland Road, according to town documents. Plans are only in place for the residential complex, and there is no set developer for the commercial section yet.
The rezone was approved with requirements from the town that Redwood must meet. Those sticking points include conducting a traffic study on Whiteland Road to determine the traffic impact and the road improvements needed. Redwood also plans to add walking trails along the road.
Two entrances are planned for the complex — one on Whiteland Road and one on U.S. 31, just south of the intersection at Whiteland Road. The U.S. 31 entrance would be a right-in and right-out entrance only, meaning drivers cannot make left turns into or out of the complex, according to the updated concept plans.
Original plans did not include an entrance on U.S. 31, but town officials indicated they would not approve the rezone without a second entrance because of increased traffic on Whiteland Road. Redwood reevaluated and got permission from the Indiana Department of Transportation in October to add the U.S. 31 entrance.
With the land rezone approved, Redwood can return to the town plan commission for approval of the plat plans for the development.
