HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 10-18-11CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT REPORT
OCTOBER 18, 2011
1. 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. The Dept. will need a copy of the new recorded document.
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