Commissioners approve rezoning to expand Bluestone retirement community at 9131 Rothman Road

Allen County Commissioners voted March 14 to approve REZ-2024-0050, rezoning 4.93 acres at 9131 Rothman Road in St. Joe Township from A1 agricultural to R3 multifamily residential to allow an expansion of the Bluestone Retirement Community Extended.

Jacob Rose of the Department of Planning described the proposal as seven structures totaling 47 units with shared access to the existing retirement community and a secondary exit onto Rothman Road. He said the Plan Commission and the primary development plan were approved 7–0.

Commissioners and planning staff discussed neighborhood concerns raised at the Plan Commission, including marketing of the current development as an "over‑55" community while the new development would not be age‑restricted by zoning. Rose clarified that zoning does not address age limits: “Our zoning ordinance does not consider age when it comes to zoning. So that's just a marketing tool that basically a developer uses,” he said.

Rose also noted the zoning ordinance requires landscaping and screening where multifamily development abuts A1 residential zoning and reported that the developer was arranging to transfer a portion of property on the west side so adjacent woods remain under neighboring ownership as an additional buffer. The site includes an existing pond that the developer indicated may be expanded; detailed engineering was not complete at the hearing.

The commissioners voted to approve the rezoning by motion.

Ending: Planning staff said final engineering and development plan details will continue through the permitting process.