Plain City Council members recently heard the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone a nearly 80-acre property to allow for Phase II of the Madison Meadows residential development, depicted above. The property is located south of the intersection of Perry Pike and Lafayette Plain City Road, directly south of the first phase of the development. If approved, the neighborhood would add 225 housing units to the area.
(Graphic submitted)
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As more residential developments spring up within the village, Plain City Council members are considering their vision for the future of the area.
During Monday’s council meeting, officials heard the first reading of an ordinance that would pave the way for Madison Meadows Phase II.
“For all intents and purposes, this is going to look exactly like Madison Meadows,” said Gary Smith with G2 Planning and Design.
If approved, the ordinance would result in the rezoning of 79.734 acres along the east side of Lafayette Plain City Road, approximately 0.5 miles south of the intersection of Perry Pike and Lafayette Plain City Road, from Darby Township Agricultural District to Planned Residential Development District. It would also approve a preliminary development plan for the Madison Meadows Phase II residential development.
Smith explained that the site is “just south” of the original Madison Meadows development.
He said the market demand for the initial neighborhood has been strong, and developers aim to “continue the good work that we’ve started with Madison Meadows” with a second phase consisting of 225 proposed units.
Smith noted that Madison Meadows Phase I offered a variety of housing options, including multi-family homes, single-family homes and “age-targeted duplexes.”
Similarly, Phase II will have multiple types of houses.
The majority will be single-family homes, which are in “really high demand,” Smith said. There will also be options marketed to seniors, but those in Phase II will be patio homes rather than duplexes.
Developers said costs for homes within Madison Meadows Phase II will likely start in the $300,000s.
Smith noted that a contract with the landowner requires a 10-acre portion on the southwest corner of the property to become a community park called Kramer Park, as a “kind of legacy” of the previous owners.
There will also be smaller “pocket parks” throughout the development, Smith said.
Smith said details surrounding Kramer Park will become apparent when a final development plan is presented.
He noted that developers are gauging interest from the village and a local soccer league in owning and operating the park. Otherwise, he said the neighborhood’s homeowners association would manage it.
“We don’t really have a preference” surrounding ownership of the park, Smith said.
Smith added that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning and preliminary development plan, with seven conditions. He said developers agreed to each one.
Council member Frank Reed mentioned a condition that required the applicant to expand their traffic study “to explore the Perry Pike and U.S. 42 intersection.” Smith said a consultant already completed the expanded study and found no additional improvements are needed.
Reed also noted the condition that Plain City will be granted an access easement for a multi-use path, which falls outside the right-of-way.
Smith said there is an existing path along the frontage of Madison Meadows Phase I, which will be extended through Phase II, to Kramer Park.
No residents spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing. Several council members voiced concern surrounding the proposed development.
Council President Michael Terry said he feels the village should “move away from” developments resembling Madison Meadows, with what he called “small lots.”
The development will have 70-foot and 60-foot lots for single-family homes.
“We’re cramming in a lot,” Terry said. “Like, a lot.”
He acknowledged that the market demand is high for homes like what Madison Meadows Phase II would bring to the village, even predicting they will sell quickly.
Still, he said he would like more “variety” offered throughout housing options in the village, though he emphasized a desire to “move toward bigger lots” in the zoning code rewrite.
Council member Jim Eudaily also said he would like to see larger lot sizes.
Reed said he “sympathize(s)” with the views expressed by Terry and Eudaily, but worried that larger lots and homes would price out prospective residents.
“Plain City is becoming more unaffordable,” he said, noting that he did not feel that even the $300,000 homes in Madison Meadows Phase II should be considered affordable housing.
Reed reiterated that he feels the developers behind the neighborhood will bring a high-quality product to the village.
“We can expect them to deliver what they say they will deliver,” he said.
Smith echoed Reed’s comments.
“The struggle now is to bring houses into a price range that people can actually afford,” he said.
Smith said, due to the absence of infrastructure throughout Plain City, developers are often tasked with adding everything from water and sewer lines to sidewalks. He said those costs are split between the cost of homes in a development.
“Everything’s gotten so expensive” which has caused a trend toward smaller lot sizes, Smith explained.
He said he feels having a conversation surrounding council’s vision for the future of Plain City is important but he encouraged them to invite developers, who understand costs and demand, into the discussion.
Terry acknowledged Smith and Reed’s comments, noting that he feels Madison Meadows Phase II is a “bit of a double-edged sword for me.”
“Having some nicer houses isn’t terrible,” Terry added.
Council will hear a second reading of the ordinance and vote on the matter during its next meeting, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
In other business:
– Mayor Jody Carney read two proclamations – one declaring Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week and another recognizing Scouts BSA Anniversary Week. Cub Scout Pack 90 was also present at the meeting to lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
– Council unanimously appointed Lauren Giaimo to the Personnel and Finance Committee and unanimously reappointed Eli Abrams to the Parks and Recreation Committee.