By Ann Marie Shambaugh
The Zionsville Town Council voted April 10 against a request from Beazer Homes to waive a one-year waiting period before taking another look at plans for a site that had previously been denied.
The council voted in February to deny plans for Amberly, a proposed 72-acre subdivision at the northwest corner of CR 400 S and CR 875 E. Andy Buroker, who represents Beazer Homes, said Beazer’s new plans call for a different zoning classification, 15 fewer homes and more green space, among other changes.
The town can waive the one-year waiting period if plans for a site change substantially. Councilors disagreed on what that meant.
“I have serious issues with what is being presented tonight,” said councilor Susana Suarez, who voted to deny the request. “I don’t think the removal of 15 houses is substantial enough to warrant us to revisit a rule that has no precedent.”
Councilor Jeff Papa disagreed, saying that he was not necessarily in favor of the new plan but the fact that Beazer was requesting a different zoning was a big enough change to waive the waiting period.
Councilor Tom Schuler, who joined Papa in the 5-2 vote, said the waiting period seemed “antiquated.”
“To clog the system up for a year on something like this where all the individuals involved have tried to work with the community to do something seems less than progressive,” he said.
Three residents who live near the site spoke against granting the waiver.
