Two proposed subdivisions could bring 60 new homes to Greenwood.
The Greenwood Advisory Plan Commission heard two separate subdivision proposals Monday night. One plan calls for a 14-home neighborhood, and another calls for a 56-home neighborhood.
The smaller neighborhood, dubbed Lyon’s Park, would be built on a single cul-de-sac extending off Fry Road. The subdivision, proposed by Northpointe Engineering and Surveying, Inc. would be west of Northwest Park in Greenwood, and just south of the Lyons Cemetery, according to city documents. The neighborhood would be part of the Center Grove school district.
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The homes would be zoned R-1, the largest zoning category for residential homes, and each lot would hover around half an acre, city documents said. Plans also include a walking path between the subdivision and nearby park.
Emilee Pully, who lives near the proposed development, spoke out against the plans during the meeting, saying she was concerned about more traffic on Fry Road, and that more homes would affect the area’s aesthetic.
“The main reason many of us on Fry Road decided to purchase a home here is because it was more secluded with nature surrounding,” Pully said.
From a traffic study, the developer determined the 14 homes would not heavily impact traffic on Fry Road, said Marty Spees, senior project manager at Northpointe Engineering. Additional turn lanes and a bump out in the road for passing cars will be added to Fry Road in front of the subdivision, he said.
“Even though it’s not warranted, we feel this is above and beyond to make sure traffic is flowing smoothly along that corridor,” Spees said.
Most of the trees and nature in the area will be preserved as well, said Donna Smithers, president of Northpointe Engineering.
“Our whole idea is to keep that look and keep as many trees as we can,” Smithers said.
Another 56-home single-family subdivision by J. Greg Allen Home Builders is proposed between two existing Apryl Drives, northwest of Freedom Park in Greenwood. The 22-acre property is adjacent to two existing subdivisions — Featherstone and Alden Place.
The City of Greenwood owns the land, with plans to eventually extend both ends of Apryl Drive as a thoroughfare to connect the five subdivisions that already exist in the area.
J. Greg Allen proposed that a new neighborhood was the best way to do this, instead of connecting the streets with a 40-mph empty stretch of road across the property, he said.
“The plot behind this subdivision design is to make efficient use of the land and the portfolio of home products,” Allen said.
The lots would be zoned R-2, single-family residential homes, with each lot averaging about 12,500 square feet in size, according to city documents. These homes would be located in the Greenwood school district.
Ernie Locke, who lives in the area, was the only community member who spoke out against the proposed subdivision at the meeting. He, too, was concerned about additional traffic in the area, and is afraid people would cut through the proposed neighborhood to avoid nearby school zones, he said.
He also questioned why the city wants to pay a home developer to build a connection between Apryl Drive instead of paying for the road on its own.
“Maybe this is common practice, but from what I understand, it seems like the city would like to see this drive go through, and maybe the only way we can afford it is to have a private contractor pay for it through a housing development,” Locke said.
Allen said building a subdivision on the land is the best way to reduce unwanted traffic between the existing neighborhoods.
“This small parcel cannot bare the cost of $800,000 for a road that cannot be used to create lots, which would generate revenue. It can’t bare it. It’s been left in the middle and it’s too small,” Allen said.
The commission voted unanimously to send favorable recommendations for both to the Greenwood City Council, which will vote on it at its next meeting Monday.
