Plan Commission approves major landscape amendment at 1128 Parkway Ave.; adds five trees and sends right-of-way questions to Board of Works

The Elkhart City Plan Commission on March 3 approved a final site-plan amendment for 1128 Parkway Avenue that will replace most on-site sod with artificial turf and rock, with a 5–2 vote and a condition that five trees be added to the private property. The commission also directed that any changes within the public right of way, including the tree lawn along Parkway Avenue, be decided by the Board of Works.

City planning staff said the petition by AML Properties Inc., represented at the meeting by Andrew Cunningham of Jones Petrovinski, seeks to remove nearly all sod and replace it with synthetic turf and stone or rock. Staff noted the amendment would result in roughly 77% of the project’s open space covered by rock or stone — far above the ordinance limit of 20% for such materials. The petitioner said the change is intended to reduce maintenance, mowing, irrigation and chemical applications.

"We are working with Martin Marketing... to increase the aesthetic appeal, enhance durability, and cut down on overall maintenance," Andrew Cunningham told the commission. The property owner and onsite representative, Brad Martin, said the chosen synthetic turf is manufactured from recycled materials and that the change would reduce fertilizer and chemical use. "If I don't mow, I'm saving with gas in the air and stuff like that," Martin said.

Staff briefly addressed environmental and health questions raised by commissioners. One commissioner asked whether the synthetic turf could affect drainage or contribute PFAS chemical runoff; staff said the petitioner provided cut sheets asserting the turf does not contain PFAS but that staff had not independently verified that information in the meeting. Staff also told the commission it could not recall a similar petition seeking to eliminate virtually all green plant material within the city and recommended that the public-right-of-way tree-lawn decision be made by the Board of Works rather than the Plan Commission.

During public comment the petitioner and project representatives discussed tree placement and root types; commissioners questioned whether trees had already been removed prior to the petition. The petitioner stated he had not removed trees. The commission discussed adding five trees back into the site plan to address canopy and visual concerns.

Commissioner Beecher moved to approve the final-site-plan amendment as presented with staff conditions and the addition of five trees on the site; Commissioner Davis seconded. The roll call vote was 5–2 in favor (Beecher, Osborne, Davis, Lawson, Irwin yes; Baker and Mishler no).

The commission’s approval allows the private-site landscape changes to proceed per the approved plan and staff conditions; any modifications within the public right of way, including the tree lawn along Parkway Avenue, will require a separate decision by the Board of Works.