McCORDSVILLE — Officials have approved annexing 138 acres onto the northeast side of town, where 287 homes are planned.
Concerns remain over how the new neighborhood would integrate with current residences in the area, but the developer is confident some can be resolved before leaders consider the subdivision’s standards next month, and others before construction would begin.
The McCordsville Town Council earlier this month unanimously approved the annexation of the land at the northwest corner of County Roads 900N and 500W southeast of McCord Road. There, Lennar Homes wants to develop a subdivision called Summerton, which would have 171 low-maintenance ranch homes and 116 traditional single-family homes.
Summerton’s site is south of the McCord Pointe neighborhood, which Lennar Homes is also developing.
Ty Rinehart, land acquisition manager for Lennar Homes, said at a McCordsville Plan Commission meeting earlier this week that Summerton would mirror the product and price points in McCord Pointe. Last year, home sales there ranged from $325,000 to about $500,000 and averaged about $370,000, Rinehart said.
A legal drain called North Fork Dry Branch divides the proposed Summerton property. The ranch homes would be north of the drain while the single-family homes would be to the south. The neighborhood would also have an amenities center; pool and pool house; playground; a 10-foot wide asphalt path along North Fork Dry Branch; an 8-foot wide path along 900N; and a 10-foot wide path along 500W.
Neighbors abutting the proposed subdivision expressed concerns about residential lots being so close to their farming equipment and curious children living in the new neighborhood who may wander over. The residents asked for a stronger buffer, like a fence.
Several plan commission members agreed.
“I’m not sure trees and a mound are going to be enough to protect that working area,” said Tom Strayer, a member of the plan commission and town council. “In this circumstance, I don’t know that a fence is out of being reasonable.”
Rinehart said Lennar Homes would be willing to commit to a fence, but that more details will need to be determined.
“We really need to go out there and take a look and talk to the owners and see what they think would be most effective and where, how far we should run down,” he said. “But we understand the concern, and we’ll commit to that.”
Residents also expressed concerns about drainage. Rinehart said the site would be required to take in stormwater coming onto the site and route it appropriately.
“We won’t get construction plans unless our plans meet those specifications and pick up all of the drainage coming into our site,” Rinehart said. “Integrating and picking up drains from surrounding properties is really pretty common and standard operating procedure.”
The plan commission voted unanimously to send Lennar Homes’ petition to the town council with a favorable recommendation. The council will vote on it at its next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. The town posts meeting details and agendas on its website, mccordsville.org. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the town has been holding meetings through an online video-conferencing platform, links to which are posted on the town website.
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Summerton
- 138 acres at northwest corner of County Roads 900N and 500W
- 287 homes: 171 low-maintenance ranches, 116 traditional single-family
- $325,000 to $500,000
- Amenities center
- Pool
- Pool house
- Playground
- Paths
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