Whiteland planning commission forwards amendment to Redwood PUD to allow one- and three‑bedroom units

The Whiteland Advisory Planning Commission on July 8 voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council on a proposed amendment to the Redwood Planned Unit Development that would allow one‑ and three‑bedroom units in addition to the two‑bedroom units already authorized.

Planning staff told the commission the petitioner, Joseph Sikos of Parkland, Moses, Scott, and Grand LLP, seeks a text change to Ordinance 2022‑15 (the Redwood PUD) to permit a mix of one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom units and to specify minimum floor areas: a one‑bedroom unit at 909 square feet, a two‑bedroom at 1,100 square feet, and a three‑bedroom at 1,595 square feet. The staff report recommended the commission forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council. The council is scheduled to consider the petition at its next regular meeting on Aug. 12, 2025.

The petition applies immediately to one building the developer is proposing to change, but staff said the amended PUD language could apply to future buildings in the development if the developer elects to use the new unit mix. Staff described the Redwood site as a portion of the former Dahlia property south of Whiteland Road between U.S. 31 and Maple Street; the record shows the property was rezoned in 2006 to C‑2 with commitments for future mixed use and that 40.45 acres were rezoned to a PUD in December 2022.

Developer representative Greg Fuhrman told the commission the change reflects market adjustments the builder has made in other states: “after 34 years of building our 2 bedroom units, we've listened to the grandmas that want a 1 bedroom, and we've listened to the families that want a home office.” He said the change would be limited in exterior appearance and is intended to expand marketing options rather than alter the overall project.

Commissioners asked about likely effects on schools, parking and which parts of the project the change would affect. Planning staff said the amendment currently targets one building (identified in staff exhibits) and that several buildings already have permits under the existing two‑bedroom standard; staff estimated roughly 12–14 buildings are under construction and that about seven or eight buildings have footers poured. Staff told the commission that all internal roads, sidewalks and stormwater features within Redwood are private and maintained by the developer, with only a sewer main dedicated to the town.

A commissioner raised the possibility that three‑bedroom units could mean more schoolchildren; planning staff said they did not expect a measurable school‑impact from the single‑building change and noted the town has over 500 single‑family homes proposed in the next three years that would have a larger direct effect on school enrollment. The commission opened a public hearing; no written public comments had been filed, and one speaker representing the developer addressed the commission before the hearing was closed.

After discussion the commission member made a motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the Whiteland Town Council based on the findings of fact in the staff report. The motion passed 4‑0 (Justin Lane, Andy Marker, Byron Temple and Gary Howard voted yes). The matter now moves to the Town Council for final action on Aug. 12, 2025.