Smaller Arbor Homes plan advances on second try along 500 South
And other Area Plan Commission news …
Support for this edition comes from the YWCA Greater Lafayette, presenting Brian Rosenthal, a West Lafayette native and Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter for the New York Times, April 10 as part of the Linda Cohen Trailblazer Series. For tickets, go to: www.ywcalafayette.org/cohenseries.
SMALLER ARBOR HOMES PLAN ADVANCES ALONG 500 SOUTH
While still tallying the fallout of the Area Plan Commission’s vote against a request to set up land for an SK hynix advanced chip packaging facility in West Lafayette – see: “Rezoning for $3.8B SK hynix facility gets thumbs down from APC” – here’s more development news from Wednesday’s hearings.
Arbor Homes plan advances on second try: Arbor Homes’ second shot at rezoning 105 acres near the corner U.S. 231 and County Road 500 South won a recommendation from the Area Plan Commission Wednesday night, over lingering objections from homeowners in a subdivision across the road.
The Indianapolis-based homebuilder scaled back its initial request from 306 homes to 244 in its rezoning request southwest of the U.S. 231/500 South intersection. It was enough to sway the Area Plan Commission, which recommended approval of the rezoning on a 13-1 vote. A month earlier brought an inconclusive vote that forced a second hearing and rethinking of the plan.
Homeowners in the Rainybrook additions on the north side of County Road 500 South urged the APC to reject the Arbor Homes request, raising concerns about traffic during peak school times at the nearby McCutcheon High School, safety concerns at the U.S. 231 lights and a layout they contended still was too densely packed.
Neighbors collected hundreds of signatures on petitions, in a case that signaled a continued push of residential developments down U.S. 231, south of Lafayette.
Tippecanoe County commissioners will get the final say during their meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the County Office Building, 20 N. Third St.
The Approach complex rezoning recommended: A plan advanced from West Lafayette-based Weida Holdings to build a maximum 12-story apartment complex, with a 268 units and a maximum of 655 beds, on 1.4 acres at the northwest corner of South River Road and Williams Street. According to an APC report, the project, dubbed The Approach, would be an increase of 187 units over the apartments standing there now. The buildings, as proposed, would stand 11 stories along South River Road and eight stories as it stretched to Salisbury Street. Ryan Munden, an attorney for Weida Holdings, said the name of the project was inspired by Purdue’s aviation history. The project also will include a public art space near the corner of Williams Street and South River Road, with plans to work with The Arts Federation to commission a sculpture.
Munden said construction was expected to start in May 2026, once existing leases are up on apartment buildings on that site. Munden said the project was expected to open in time for the 2028 school year.
“The Weida family has been a staple in West Lafayette, and we're excited about a local developer building this type of project for West Lafayette,” Munden said. “And they're excited to get started.”
The West Lafayette City Council will consider the rezoning plan at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at city hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave.
A Circle K at a Romney intersection: Rezoning for a gas station with several lanes for diesel semis at the southwest corner of U.S. 231 and Indiana 28 in Romney moved on with a 10-4 vote recommending approval. Neighbors living next to the property objected to the size, scope, traffic, noise and potential fumes from idling trucks at the proposed Circle K station. A final vote is needed by the Tippecanoe County commissioners at 10 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the County Office Building, 20 N. Third St.
READY TO UPGRADE YOUR BASED IN LAFAYETTE SUBSCRIPTION? NOW’S THE TIME.
THIS AND THAT/OTHER READS …
Who had Will Berg in their bracket, playing a key role in Purdue’s win over High Point in Thursday’s opening round of the NCAA Tournament? J&C reporter Sam King had this from Providence, Rhode Island, where Purdue lines up a Saturday second round game against No. 12 seed McNeese State: “Purdue basketball no longer has Zach Edey, but got lift from 7-footer in NCAA Tournament.”
A bill that would expand Indiana’s Lifeline Law, an effort pushed by Purdue student leaders, cleared the Indiana House and is on its way to the governor for a signature. The Lifeline Law, approved in 2012, gives immunity against prosecution for underage drinking when someone younger than 21 makes a call for medical help and sticks around when someone else drinks too much alcohol. Senate Bill 74 would update the law’s protection from criminal prosecution to the person who needs medical attention, too. Writing for the Journal & Courier, reporter Wil Courtney had more about the work done by Purdue students to stitch together a coalition of leaders from other campus to get the measure through the General Assembly: “Purdue student-backed 'Lifeline Law' extension sweeps Indiana House, heads to governor.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Casey Smith had the interesting twist on a bill state Sen. Spencer Deery, a West Lafayette Republican, is carrying: “An Indiana bill intending to curtail missed class time might actually do the opposite by widening the door for high school students to leave school for religious instruction. … Hoosier students are already permitted to miss up to 120 minutes of class each week for optional religious instruction hosted off school grounds. Deery, framed his Senate Bill 255 as a means to tighten up existing law by preventing public high school students from missing large amounts of time from one class for out-of-school faith-based lessons. Rather, his proposal would allow older students to effectively replace an elective course with religious instruction. The existing two-hour limit for elementary and middle school students would remain the same.” Smith had more about how that bill was playing out in the Indiana House: “Lawmakers debate if students should miss some — or all — of a class for religious instruction.”
When President Donald Trump signed an executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun was on hand. From the Indianapolis Star: “Braun attends Trump signing of order dismantling Education Department. How it impacts Indiana.”
ICYMI … A TIM’S PICKS REPLAY: When you're not checking your NCAA Tournament bracket, your guide to some choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
Support for this edition comes from the YWCA Greater Lafayette, presenting Brian Rosenthal, a West Lafayette native and Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter for the New York Times, April 10 as part of the Linda Cohen Trailblazer Series. For tickets and more information, go to: www.ywcalafayette.org/cohenseries.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Our governor will be s.iting himself with joy over the access of a fire hose of money coming to Indiana from the department of education, at our children’s expense.
244 homes on 105 acres does not seem particularly dense to me. This smacks of NIMBYISM.