Planning commission approves conceptual PUD for 7990 E. 80th Ave.; traffic improvements remain unresolved

Maryville planning commissioners voted 5-0 to grant conceptual planned-unit-development (PUD) approval for a proposal at 7990 East 80th Avenue that would allow a retail convenience store and flex warehouse on 10.28 acres. The motion, made by Commissioner Petty and seconded by Commissioner Jeff Swike, passed on a roll-call vote with all five members voting yes.

The petitioner, Ross Brown of Advent Real Estate Advisors, said the plan has not changed since the last review and that the team has begun preliminary engineering after receiving favorable comments from staff. Brown said the traffic engineer provided a draft traffic study and the petitioner is reviewing recommended off-site improvements and discussing a required frontage road with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

Commissioners and staff stressed outstanding transportation issues. Commissioner Brian (last name on file as in transcript) repeatedly pointed to an Indiana statute and Maryville code section that require a dedicated turn lane where a primary highway feeds a secondary road; he said past projects required turn-lane lengths of roughly 100–125 feet and that, depending on traffic and lane configuration, this site could require as much as 330 feet of turn lane. Brown said INDOT is requiring that a stub road near the proposed quick-service restaurant be relocated closer to State Road 30 and widened from 35 to 40 feet.

Staff member Sheila read the staff report noting the PUD will provide paved streets, curbs, gutters, storm sewer draining to a retention pond and connections for sanitary sewer if annexation into the sanitary district (MCD) is completed. Brown said the conservancy district has released the petitioner to begin the annexation process to access sanitary sewer service.

Commissioner Sean (last name on file as in transcript) made clear this conceptual approval is not final; he said preliminary engineering must address a checklist of 18 items (including covenants) and that if the town does not get acceptable Randolph Street improvements, he would vote against moving forward at later stages. Brown said the team expects engineering approvals in the fall and, if schedule and weather permit, construction approvals in January but likely physical work starting in spring.

The commission’s action grants conceptual PUD approval and sends the project to the preliminary stage; final engineering, INDOT coordination, any required county easement vacations, and sanitary annexation remain outstanding and were repeatedly identified as prerequisites to further approvals.

Commission Notes: Motion made by Commissioner Petty; second by Commissioner Jeff Swike. Roll-call vote: Swike — yes; Petty — yes; [presiding commissioner] — yes; Daring — yes; Chris Mellon — yes. Outcome: Approved (5-0).