Planning commission approves Creekside Woods Phase 1 detailed development plan with conditions

The Huber Heights Planning Commission approved a detailed development plan for Creekside Woods Phase 1 on a 3-0 vote, advancing a residential townhome project by Grey Fox Capital toward permitting.

City planning staff said the phase covers 15.2 acres and includes 78 townhome units, with the overall development previously described during the review process. Aaron Sorel, city planning staff, told the commission the applicant had increased the northern buffer to about 40 feet, shifted buildings to reduce impact on adjacent properties and provided additional evergreen plantings and pedestrian connections.

Staff reported the plan includes three detention ponds for stormwater management, public streets (not private), 4-foot sidewalks, and utility easements located outside public streets per the city engineer's requests. Sorel said the net density for the phase is about 5.2 units per acre and that phase parking provides two spaces per unit plus 20 visitor spaces.

Developer representatives described product details and design choices. Drew Cook, development director for Grey Fox Capital, said the team had been “very cooperative with our neighbors” and was available to respond to questions. Steve McConaughey of Ryan Homes, the builder partner, described the siding and facade approach and said the project will use 0.044-inch vinyl siding that meets the city's material standards.

Neighbors spoke during public comment. Dave McCoy, who owns property immediately north of the site, said he and his neighbors found the developer responsive and supportive of revisions and that he expected a “very good relationship with our new Southern neighbors.”

Commission discussion focused on facade materials and buffering. Commissioner Vargo strongly expressed a preference for higher levels of masonry, saying she was “not in favor” of lowering masonry at the front elevations. Staff and the builder explained that on some building types the masonry percentage measures slightly below the 10% guideline in the zoning code (one building type was reported at about 9% and another at about 6%). Staff recommended approval, saying the submitted elevations present a balanced appearance and that the masonry calculation is influenced by window and door placements on the narrow townhome facades.

The commission approved the detailed development plan with conditions. The motion, moved by Commissioner Thomas and seconded by Commissioner Fargo, referenced the staff memorandum dated February 2025 and the Planning Commission decision record. Roll call votes were recorded as: Commissioner Thomas — yes; Commissioner Vargo — yes; Commissioner Walton — yes. The motion passed 3–0.

Staff outlined the conditions tied to approval: installation of protective fencing along the northern 40-foot buffer to protect existing trees during construction; building elevations “shall be similar in design and masonry composition” to the renderings submitted with the basic development plan; and compliance with all fire department requirements. Sorel said the applicant will next submit for zoning permits.

The commission also discussed non-legislative technical items raised during staff presentation, including street-tree placement relative to sewer easements (staff noted a future policy discussion about moving sanitary sewers from behind sidewalks into the street), sidewalk and multiuse path locations along Wildcat, and emergency access through a cul-de-sac to an adjacent campground.

Clarifying notes: the transcript contains inconsistent unit counts (staff at one point described the “ultimate” plan as 59 townhomes on 24.6 acres while describing Phase 1 as 78 units on 15.2 acres). The article reports both figures as presented to the commission rather than reconciling them.

No appeals or additional actions were recorded at the meeting on this item; staff said the applicant may submit for building and zoning permits following the commission action.