Greenwood planning commission approves waiver to relocate 19 street trees in Elmoitte Estates 2

The Greenwood Advisory Planning Commission on Aug. 25 approved a landscape waiver allowing Lennar Homes of Indiana to relocate 19 required street trees from frontages into common areas and buffer yards.

The waiver, filed as PC2025-026 for Elmoitte Estates 2, was presented by Greg Binter of Lennar Homes, who said the company seeks to move 19 trees “to common areas and or path area,” citing lack of space along certain street frontages. Planning staff described the request as similar to prior petitions and recommended approval with the condition that tree replacement be prioritized in common areas with trails.

Commissioners debated no alternate conditions and moved directly to a roll-call vote. The motion to approve the waiver included the condition that tree relocations be placed in common areas with trails and found the petition met the Unified Development Ordinance waiver criteria as presented. The commission recorded a unanimous vote of nine ayes; the waiver was approved 9-0.

The waiver modifies the Greenwood Unified Development Ordinance streetscaping requirement identified in the petition as UDO section 10-03-06(H) so that 19 trees required along the subdivision cannot be planted at the standard spacing and will instead be placed in common areas or buffer yards. The petitioner and staff indicated the relocation responds to “location conflicts” along the subject project’s frontage.

No remonstrators or public speakers opposed the request at the hearing. The commission’s approval allows the developer to proceed under the approved waiver when preparing final plans and the landscape schedule for the subdivision.