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Council approves Finley Creek Estates PUD rezoning, 60-lot single-family community cleared 6-1
Summary
After months of review and changes, the council adopted Ordinance 24-42 to establish the Finley Creek Estates planned unit development (PUD) on roughly 34 acres; the rezoning reduces the proposal from 86 to 60 lots, adds perimeter buffers and common-area protections and passed 6-1 amid objections over density and future road access.
The Westfield City Council adopted Ordinance 24-42 on Tuesday to rezone roughly 34 acres for Finley Creek Estates, a single-family planned unit development proposed by Pulte Homes. The ordinance passed 6-1 following a lengthy staff and developer presentation and debate among council members about lot sizes, buffers and potential future road connections.
Weston Rogers of the Community Development Department told the council the site is "roughly 34 acres in size" and noted the advisory planning commission gave a unanimous favorable recommendation on March 3. Rex Ramage, representing Pulte Homes, outlined the revised plan: a single cul-de-sac with a stub street connecting east to the Atwater community, 60 lots (reduced from an earlier 86), and perimeter landscape buffers placed in common area to preserve existing tree lines.
Ramage said lots will generally be 70 feet wide; depths vary by location: lots backing to ponds are about 130 feet deep while other lots average about 206 feet. He described homes "ranging anywhere from 2,800 to 3,300 square feet." Ramage and staff said the design intentionally omits community amenities because deep lots are expected to accommodate private outdoor features (pools, patios, outdoor kitchens) on individual parcels.
Opposition from one councilor focused on density and fit with adjacent larger lots. That councilor said the layout "still does not do it for me" and argued the plan "doesn't fit in with anything to the West" and could reduce neighboring property values. Several councilors said the developer and staff revised the plan substantially during advisory planning commission review and emphasized mitigation measures such as a 40-foot landscape buffer and setbacks to reduce impacts on adjacent properties.
A recurring concern among council members was any future vehicle access to Fremont Moore Road. Councilors noted the current plan avoids a vehicular connection to Fremont Moore Road but expressed concern that future parcel changes could revive that access.
Motion and vote: Councillor Kurt Wanninger moved approval of Ordinance 24-42; Councillor Victor McCarty seconded. Roll call showed six votes in favor and one opposed (Noah Herron). The clerk recorded: Yes — Kurt Wanninger, John Dart, Joe Depner, Chad Huff, Victor McCarty, Patrick Tam; No — Noah Herron. The motion carried 6-1.
Next steps: With the zoning adopted, the petitioner indicated plans to submit primary plat and construction plans this summer and, if schedules hold, begin construction later in the year.
