This rendering shows the proposed façade to one of Galleria at Market Place’s apartment buildings. Carmel-based Pedcor Companies proposed building a 216-unit, seven building apartment complex on the corner of Fairview and Bluff roads in White River Township. But they withdrew the request to rezone the land on Monday.
Renderings provided by the Johnson County Planning Department
A developer that faced public backlash for plans to build apartments in White River Township withdrew its request to rezone the property for the development on Monday.
Carmel-based Pedcor Companies asked the Johnson County Advisory Plan Commission last month for a rezone of 14.1 acres of land on the northwest corner of Bluff and Fairview roads. The land is currently zoned for community businesses, and Pedcor wanted it rezoned to build an approximately 216-unit apartment complex dubbed “Galleria at Market Place.”
At its November meeting, the nine-member plan commission originally voted 4-3, with two members absent, to issue an unfavorable recommendation for the development. However, after a legal clarification, the commission determined that the motion failed to pass because their rules of procedure say the majority of the entire board constitutes five people, not four. So, the request was continued to the Dec. 19 meeting, before it was withdrawn.
Pedcor withdrew its rezone request at around 3 p.m. Monday, just hours before the set plan commission meeting at 6 p.m. In the withdrawal letter, Brian Tuohy, attorney for the developer, wrote Pedcor understood only eight commission members were planning to be present at Monday’s meeting, and they were concerned about an indecisive 4-4 vote.
Michele Hansard, county planning director, said there were eight of the nine members planning to attend the meeting. However, that was enough to issue one of the three recommendations available — favorable, unfavorable, or no recommendation.
Other than that, Pedcor provided few additional details on why the request was scrapped, and did not mention the growing public protest against the development. Pedcor and Tuohy did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
At least 20 nearby residents spoke against the development at the November meeting, and a larger crowd planned on attending Monday’s meeting, according to posts in a Facebook group formed to protest the apartment complex. They also started a petition following the November meeting, and gathered 1,046 signatures as of Monday.
The nearby residents generally expressed concerns about the traffic an apartment complex would add to what they said is an already-congested area on Bluff Road. They also questioned whether affordable or subsidized government housing would be offered. Some residents against the plans were concerned about alleged rises in crime associated with apartment complexes, according to posts and comments in the Facebook group.
Pedcor does develop affordable housing complexes in other areas. Most recently, Pedcor proposed plans this summer to develop an low-income housing complex in Perry Township, and they are also building another affordable complex in Denton, Texas, according to news reports.
Pedcor representatives, however, debunked several times claims about subsidized housing at the Johnson County complex, as the starting cost for the planned apartments would sit at around $1,100 a month for a one-bedroom unit and would be up to $2,000 a month for larger units. Luxury amenities such as a pool, pickleball court, playground and gym were part of the concept plans as well.
Pedcor representatives met with the nearby residents on Dec. 14 at Mount Pleasant Christian Church to discuss the development. There, Pedcor gave presentations about the rezone, which included slides showing a predicted Johnson County population growth of 30% by 2050, and the Interstate 69 future land use map, which includes “mixed density residential uses” to accommodate growth.
Most minds were not changed, according to Facebook posts following the meeting.
“We made some very valid arguments against this project. Spread the word to all family friends and neighbors as I feel a lot of folks still do not know and show up next week,” resident Christopher Vargas posted after the meeting.
Pedcor can refile the rezone request with the county at any time.
