The Metropolitan Development Commission on April 16 approved rezoning petition 2024 ZON 115, clearing the way for a 145-acre mixed residential and institutional development in Franklin Township.

The petition, filed by Manheet Singh, would rezone the property from the DAFF district to the DPFF district to allow a planned development including single-family detached homes, a senior housing parcel, and an educational use such as a parochial school or daycare. The commission voted 7-0 to approve the petition.

The rezoning matters because the developer and staff committed to several conditions intended to address neighborhood concerns, particularly traffic. The commitments recorded in the petition include a voluntary $470,000 donation for traffic-related infrastructure, dedication of right of way requested by the Department of Public Works, limits on the school enrollment used for traffic modeling, and site-maintenance obligations.

Joe Calderon, attorney representing the petitioner, told the commission the owner had worked with the Franklin Township Civic League and nearby residents on design and buffering. "We have provided for numerous commitments," Calderon said, and described a plan that he said matches the comprehensive-plan recommendation for suburban residential uses.

Under the plan presented to the commission, the single-family component would provide two lot sizes. Calderon said the latest site plan shows 189 lots sized about 70 feet by 120 feet and 39 lots sized about 100 feet by 200 feet, totaling 240 single-family lots. The proposal also reserves a parcel at the Hickory Road and Indian Creek Road corner for a senior residential facility limited to households age 55 and older, and identifies either independent or assisted living as possible product types within commitments that cap building height at two stories.

Calderon said the petition also includes an educational component at the Southport Road and Hickory Road corner, and that the petitioner had revised the traffic study and a related commitment to reflect a maximum school enrollment of 300 children (the original study used 400). Staff and the petitioner said the traffic study and identified public-works improvements were reviewed by the Department of Public Works.

Kathleen (staff member) told commissioners the project is consistent with the comprehensive plan and said staff had worked with DPW to identify required infrastructure improvements. She confirmed to a commissioner that the $470,000 figure and the right-of-way dedication are included in the petition commitments.

Counselor Mahoney, speaking during rebuttal, said community groups will monitor compliance. "When you make these commitments, I assure you the Franklin Civic League will be checking every commitment," he said.

After public testimony and staff remarks, the commission voted by ballot. Nancy (staff member) announced: "There were 7 ballots cast, 7 yes votes, no no votes. This petition has been approved." The petition is recorded in the commission minutes as 2024 ZON 115.

Clarifying details recorded in the petition and stated at the hearing include the $470,000 voluntary donation for transportation improvements; a traffic-study assumption revised to a maximum of 300 students for school-trip generation; dedication of right of way to DPW; a commitment that the senior parcel be 55-or-older housing and limited to two stories; and the stated lot counts and dimensions for the single-family component.

The commission did not record any remonstrators in the hearing; the petitioner and project representatives had 15 minutes for presentation and five minutes for rebuttal, per the procedures read into the record. The hearing record includes multiple exhibits and commitment documents filed by the petitioner and reviewed by staff.

Next steps noted during the hearing: the petition is approved subject to the commitments on file. The petitioners and staff indicated further coordination with DPW on the infrastructure work, and community groups said they will monitor compliance with the commitments going forward.