FORTVILLE — Town officials are moving forward with plans to rezone three recently annexed areas totaling more than 200 acres that eventually will hold almost 500 homes.
The town council signed off on the three voluntary annexations last week amid area residents’ concerns about the density of planned residential developments. Residents who appeared before the council said they fear for the town’s country charm and rural identity in the face of new suburban-style subdivisions coming in.
Starting next week, rezoning will be considered for the three properties:
The council will hold its second reading of the Mt. Vernon North rezoning ordinance, which concerns about 114 acres bounded by County Road 200W, Fortville Pike and County Road 850N, town planning administrator Adam Zaklikowski said. Paragon Development of Indianapolis wants to build 238 homes there.
The Hancock County Plan Commission will review this month the rezoning ordinance for the annexed Northwest Fortville property, which includes about 93 acres bounded by Ohio Street to the South, the Hamilton County line to the West, Merrill Street to the North and adjacent to existing town limits to the east, Zaklikowski said. Republic Development of Fishers wants to construct 250 homes with prices ranging from $270,000 to $400,000, according to the developer’s proposal
The Property Pros property annexation, about 21 acres, concerns a contractor’s storage yard, he said. The county previously approved the annexation in exchange for the town’s support in building a new building in the area, he said.
Some residents just outside town limits — chiefly those who live northwest of Mt. Vernon Point, in neighborhoods that fall in unincorporated Hancock County — have expressed a preference for larger-lot development in the area, Zaklikowski said. Not everyone used to rural life is a fan of the smaller lots that would characterize the new developments.
“I would say that it’s really important that any new neighborhood that comes into town features high-quality housing,” Zaklikowski said. “We’re trying to get away from the typical suburban subdivision feel. It’s about finding a balance between what the market is and what the community wants, especially in terms of uniqueness and keeping our small-town character.”
“As with any development projects, there are nearby residents who have expressed some concern,” Zaklikowski added. “We’re certainly doing our best to work with the developers and address those concerns.”
Sandra Ratliff, a Fortville resident who lives off of Ohio Street, across the road from where a new subdivision is slated to be built, said she’s concerned that the peaceful, quiet life she and her neighbors enjoy will disappear with the city’s development projects. While Ratliff’s neighborhood is just outside the town limits, she has a Fortville address and considers herself a citizen of the town, she said.
Ratliff has lived there for about 20 years, and she said growth is inevitable. But the council should pursue plans for growth and development more slowly and intelligently, she said.
“The council needs to take into consideration that we’re part of Fortville, too,” Ratliff said. “We have to have a more open communication to make sure they address what people living on the outside of town want, not just those living near the downtown area.”
Sonya Meyer, a Fortville resident who addressed the council at its meeting Nov. 5, said she has no problems with the annexations, and that the improvements that the town has made to the historical buildings in downtown Fortville have been a positive bonus for the community.
But rezoning the areas to become planned unit developments — which allow for smaller lot sizes — will make Fortville’s residential areas more and more densely populated, she told the council. That won’t match the style of the rest of the town, Meyer said.
“I lived in Fishers for 13 years before here, and I don’t like Fishers,” Meyer said. “I moved here because I like the look of this town. I like the cute, small-town charm, and I like the farm community …I’d hate to see this cute little town turn into that.”
Meyer said she has suggested to her neighbors that they share their similar concerns at the town council meetings, but they’ve been skeptical to attend.
“A lot of people have commented that ‘The council is going to do what they want,’” she told the council. “I hate to think that, so I guess my question to you is: Is that the way it is? Are you going to take into consideration the concerns people have been voicing, or have you already made up your minds on what’s going to happen?”
Town council President Michael Frischkorn said the council is seriously weighing the matter. But he said the opinions of residents living within Fortville’s town limits are naturally going to carry more weight than those from people who live outside town, he said. The council represents the citizens who pay taxes that fund town projects, he said.
“It’s not that we’re not listening to them, but sometimes the answer is going to be no,” Frischkorn said to the crowd. “That’s how I approach it. These are all very important decisions. I take it very seriously, because these are decisions that will determine what happens with this town for the next 20 to 50 years.”
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Rezoning is being considered for the annexed Northwest Fortville property, which includes about 93 acres Republic Development of Fishers wants to construct 250 homes with prices ranging from $270,000 to $400,000, according to the developer’s proposal
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