Michael Logue the lone ‘no’ vote

By Brett Milam
Editor

The Union Township Board of Trustees met on Jan. 9 to discuss the proposed development known as Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods. 

Developers of the 163-single-story townhome-style units, proposed at 4566 Tealtown Road on 35.725 acres, requested a zoning change from R-1 to planned development. Of the acreage, about 17.4 acres is open green space, with an existing pond, streams, and a wooded corridor. 

On Dec. 23, 2019, the case went before the Union Township Zoning Commission and was approved by the commission, contingent upon a number of modifications, such as sidewalk and pedestrian access, no on-street parking, and fencing along the adjacent properties.

Emergency access would come through Flick Lane.

Cory Wright, planning and zoning director, noted concerns to be considered, such as buffering. 

“There should be some areas where there may be some encroachment with regard to clearing and grading for the access points,” he said. 

The buffing strategy would be to plant eight-foot evergreen trees at minimum at the time of planting.

Gregory Thurman, vice president of development for Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods, said they have a proposed community they feel fulfills a “very comprehensive niche with senior-oriented design.”

Thurman said the rent rage is $1,400 to $1,800. Applicants are also required to submit to a credit check and background check.

“We’re proud of what we do, and we’re happy to do business here in Union Township,” Thurman said.

Michael Logue, trustee, had a question for Thurman about how they would handle erosion and water run-off. 

Thurman said they have to submit a storm water plan to the county. 

Ray Meyer, a resident who lives on Dominic Drive near the development, said his concern is with run-off into the sewers. 

“So my concern first is, are those sewers going into those lakes and will that back up that creek on our side?” Meyer said. 

Meyer is also worried about traffic leaving Schoolhouse Road. 

John McGraw, trustee, said there are going to be modifications, such as a new traffic light, to Schoolhouse Road at Old State Route 74. 

Mildred Parkin, an 80-year-old resident who also lives on Dominic, said she’s always felt safe, but worried about anybody being able to walk around the green space behind her house. She said she’s also going to not able to sit on her deck and see the wildlife anymore once construction begins. 

“Is this going to affect the value of our homes?” Parkin also asked.

Like Meyer, Parkin’s was also concerned about the water. She said her basement has flooded three times.

McGraw clarified one point after Meyer’s remarks, noting that there won’t be trails through that green space. 

Brian Cubbage, a resident who lives on Tealtown Road, said he’s worried about the zoning change and felt the development would “flood his house.”

Cubbage said he thinks the existing zoning would keep more natural green space, and better control the flood of water. 

After residents’ comments, Thurman reiterated – regarding storm water concerns – that he’s been in the business 40 years, and has yet to see a retention pond breach “because we take care of them.”

Trustees Robert McGee and Logue both pointed out that the project could serve the expected growth from Total Quality Logistics in the coming years, as it pertains to young professionals. 

TQL is building a second headquarters at Ivy Pointe, and is expected to hold over 2,000 employees, with 600 new employees, primarily in sales and information technology roles, over the next five years.

Logue motioned to continue the public hearing to the next board meeting on Jan. 23. Neither McGee or McGraw seconded the motion. 

“I do believe in the product that’s there; I think that it’s just pertinent to the board to hear our community, and Trustee McGee and Trustee McGraw are doing that, they’re diligent with their time,” Logue said. 

McGee and McGraw voted yes to approve the request to rezone the project. Logue voted no.