Fortville subdivision Plan to expand clears hurdle

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FORTVILLE — A developer’s plans to expand a neighborhood on the county’s northern edge would make room for 248 more families.

Harvey Construction, a Noblesville-based contractor, recently presented county officials with plans to build a 248-home subdivision on 86 acres of land along State Road 67 on the northeast side of Fortville.

The development, which would be a substantial expansion to Wyndstone, a neighborhood currently consisting of about 50 homes, recently received preliminary approval at the Hancock County Area Plan Commission.

The proposal still needs approval from the Fortville Town Council, which is expected to decide on the matter on July 18 during a regular meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at town hall, 714 E. Broadway St.

The proposed development, which is made up of a mix of ranch-style and two-story homes measuring between 1,200 and 2,000 square feet, will feature a communal park.

No two identical homes will be placed beside one another throughout the neighborhood, according to plans submitted to the county planning office.

Dennis Olmstead, who’s serving as a surveyor for the development, said it’s unclear when construction could begin on the new homes, assuming the project receives the go-ahead from town officials.

Homes will be built in sets of between 30 and 40, but that could change based on demand, Olmstead said.

Sidewalks would run throughout the development, and all residents would be required to join a homeowner’s association, according to plans.

Homes in the expansion will have a combination of brick and vinyl siding, planning documents show. Homes are expected to cost between $130,000 and $180,000.

Lenzy Hendrix, a member of the Fortville Town Council, said the council is working with the developers to make sure plans meet expectations for the area.

Hendrix said his initial impression was that the road layout in the development could tempt drivers to cut through the neighborhood to dodge traffic along Broadway Street.

Olmstead said the company plans to make several tweaks to existing plans to meet officials’ expectations.

Bill Hiday, president of the Fortville Town Council, said he’s confident the council can reach a compromise with the developer.

Since the project originally was presented, the developer has removed plans to reserve a portion of the property for business development.

Once constructed, Wyndstone will be the largest neighborhood in Fortville, superseding Timber Ridge on the north side of town, which consists of about 190 homes, Hiday said.

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The Fortville Town Council is expected to decide whether to allow developers to build a 248-home subdivision along Broadway Street at its meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. July 18 at town hall, 714 E. Broadway St.

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