By Anna Skinner
The Wood Wind of Westfield Planned Unit Development appeared before the Advisory Plan Commission for the fourth time Jan. 17. Again, no vote was taken.
The APC delayed the vote after suggesting the petitioner David Compton, vice president of land acquisition for Pulte Homes of Indiana, come back with a few revisions. The Wood Wind PUD originally appeared in front of the APC in September, 2016, with a public hearing, and appeared again at the beginning of November and returned for a second public hearing Nov. 21. Since then, Compton said multiple changes have been made to the proposal.
“There’s been updates and improvements in multiple areas,” Compton said. “The land plan was updated with street configuration and lot layout, amenities strengthened, architectural requirements were fully detailed. Documentation and enforceability of the PUD were also strengthened.”
When Pulte originally presented to the council, the development had 1,107 lots and approximately 400 multi-family units. When it returned this month, the development had 1,007 lots and a maximum of 224 multi-family units. Pulte Homes will build on 938 lots, with 69 lots reserved for custom homes. Previously, all lots would have been built on by Pulte. The entire development has an average of 1.38 units per acre, whereas the Harmony neighborhood has three units per acre and Liberty Ridge has 2.36 units per acre.
In addition to the reduced amount of homes, a park area or open space has been included in each of the five areas of the development. Eight-foot trails are spread through the development with ponds, playgrounds and more. Pulte is expected to invest $5.5 million into the amenity center, which includes a clubhouse, golf course renovations, three pools, two tennis courts and more. The community has 35 percent open space, including the golf course.
Plan commission members had comments and concerns. The commission was divided on the terms of apartments in the area.
“As we’ve gone through this process, there has been a lot of stuff you guys have done that I appreciate,” APC member Chris Woodard said. “I also would like to say I appreciate not just yours but all the community people involved with this. It’s been a good process so far. I just strongly feel there’s certain things in here still I’m not in support of. I’m generally not in support of any more apartments in this area at all.”
APC member Steve Hoover, who also serves on the city council, voiced a different view.
“There have been a lot of the plan commission members speaking against the apartments, and my initial thought on the apartments was they’re not appropriate for this area, but when we reduced the number to less than half and we got the architecture and concept being proposed and detailed in the PUD, I think this is a huge asset,” Hoover said. “I support the apartments at this point. I believe it’s a huge asset to this development and to our community. It gives a lifestyle that is not available anyplace else.”
The earliest the Wood Wind PUD could come before the APC again is 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at city hall, 130 Penn St. For more, visit westfield.in.gov.