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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 09-20-11CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION DEPARTMENT REPORT SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 2. Docket No. 11070019 CA: The Woods at Lions Creek Commitment Amendment. The applicant seeks approval to amend the commitments for this development. The site is located near 13700 West Rd., and is zoned S -1 /Residential. Filed by Steven Hardin of Baker Daniels, LLP on behalf of Pulte Homes of Indiana, LLC. Pulte Homes recently purchased the real estate that makes up the Woods at Lion's Creek neighborhood. The Woods at Lion's Creek is a 59 -acre subdivision that was platted into 32 lots and developed in 2007. Currently, the property is zoned S- 1/Residential, which would allow up to 59 lots (1 unit per acre). However, Pulte intends to maintain the low density of the neighborhood at 32 lots (0.5 units per acre). Pulte plans to begin marketing and construction of homes that are more responsive to today's market. As part of this effort, Pulte requests changes to the commitments made by the original developer in 2006. Pulte's proposed changes are intended to broaden the offered home styles and to allow for the completion of the neighborhood. The property's current zoning of S -1 requires a minimum home size of 1,000 sq. ft. for a one -story and 800 sq. ft. for the ground floor of a two -story. As part of the primary plat approval in 2006, the original developer committed that one -story homes would be a minimum of 3,500 sq. ft. and two -story homes a minimum of 4,200 sq. ft. In addition, basements of at least 2,000 sq. ft.in size were required for all homes. Pulte proposes that the one -story home minimum size will remain 3,500 sq. ft., the two -story home minimum size will be 3,800 sq. ft., and the minimum basement size will be 1,800 sq. ft. These proposed home sizes will continue to meet or exceed the minimum home requirements of surrounding neighborhoods. Instead of the 1800s and 1900s style homes that were proposed originally, Pulte proposes to offer a wider variety of home plans in the neighborhood. The new home plans will include a variety of architectural styles (e.g., Craftsman, Cottage, Classical, Italianate, Prairie). In addition to the introduction of these other styles, Pulte also proposes to update the anti monotony code for the neighborhood, to discourage excessive similarity among adjacent dwellings. The final part of Pulte's request is for approval to clean up the overgrowth that currently exists on the property and for approval of an updated landscape plan for the perimeter landscaping along West Road, which will replace dead trees that currently exist and install new plantings where appropriate to supplement the existing plantings. Please view the Petitioner's info packet for more detail on what changes are proposed to the existing recorded commitments. Recommendation: The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends that the Commission votes to suspend its rules of procedure and vote to approve this item.