JAMES WOOD

Staff Writer

The Shelbyville Planning Commission voted to send the Remington Farms PUD back to the City Council with another unfavorable recommendation during their April 23 meeting.

Earlier in April, the City Council had sent the plan back to the Planning Commission to review several substantial changes made to its Pattern Book.

This meeting additionally marked the first for newly-appointed Commissioner Don Boulin.

Mayor Randy Carroll along with Commissioners Henry Wilhoite and Dawn Gonzales were unable to attend.

With the updated Pattern Book, the developer had reduced the amount of single family dwellings from 400 units to 345 to comply with minimum lot size and increased open green space requirements as outlined by the commission in prior meetings, including a nature walk and other amenities.

Concerns over infrastructure and traffic were voiced by various commissioners, including the potential issues that may occur after the addition of a turning lane on Hwy. 41A by the developer.

“My only concern for that development is that the only thing I’ve seen that’s proposed is to add a center lane and basically eliminate the shoulders,” said Boulin.

He continued to emphasize these issues in relation to bikers who use the shoulder of the road being left with little safe space.

“When you get down to those areas, there’s just no way to ride a bike without getting into traffic.”

Councilmember Josh Blevins addressed the lot size requirements that had been questioned in prior meetings, inquiring about the changes made in the updated Pattern Book.

“The town home area specifies only two spaces per town home, which is lower than our standards for multi-family,” Blevins said. “Are you guys stopping at two per town home? Is there going to be overflow parking?”

Chris Maguire spoke on the questions raised over the parking spaces by specifying that the developer is able to add overflow parking to comply with city standards.

Blevins consulted City Attorney Ginger Shofner about sending the plan to the City Council without a recommendation, in which the commission was encouraged to vote on either a favorable or unfavorable recommendation.

A motion was then made by Blevins to send the plan back with an unfavorable recommendation, which passed 4 – 2.

Commissioners Warren Landers and Steve Taylor dissented.

“I think they [the developer] came in with a good plan,” said Landers. “I understand that people might not want that in their backyard but it did meet the requirements.”

A final verdict will be given after the PUD’s second reading following a public hearing period during the City Council’s next regular meeting in May.