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Hearing examiner recommends approval for 273-acre Arbor Homes development in Franklin Township
Summary
The hearing examiner recommended approval of a rezoning for a 273-acre Arbor Homes residential cluster (ZON074) that would preserve roughly half the tract as open space and create a variety of single-family home lot types; staff recommended approval and petitioners offered 39 written commitments.
The hearing examiner recommended approval on Oct. 23 of petition 2025 ZON 074 to rezone about 273.12 acres near South Mitthoeffer Road and MacGregor Road in Franklin Township from a mixture of districts to D-4 for a clustered single-family development by Arbor Homes.
Arbor Homes representative Tony Bogato told the hearing the plan calls for roughly 418 lots and preserves approximately 124'125 acres as open space; the developer agreed to a long list of commitments addressing tree preservation, wetlands protection, buffers and roadway dedications. "Through this process we've been working with the civic league ... we have provided 39 commitments in writing that we've agreed to," Bogato said during his presentation.
Why it matters: The proposal would turn a large area of mostly farmland/open land into a low-density planned neighborhood that the petitioner and staff say uses the cluster zoning option to protect contiguous natural areas and preserve wetlands. Planning staff reviewed the traffic impact study, said needed roadway improvements are understood and recommended approval subject to commitments.
Residents and civic-league representatives spoke at the hearing with mixed concerns. Resident Sarah Kobzef asked for more time for neighbors to review plans and noted that some nearby residents learned of the filing late; the hearing examiner acknowledged those concerns but said staff and petitioner had been working with the civic league and recommended the rezoning be placed on the MDC docket with a recommendation of approval.
The examiner said clustering allows the developer to meet D-4 objectives while keeping substantial open space. "Given all the ... commitments that are being offered both to staff and to Franklin Township Civic League, I am going to recommend approval of 2025 ZON 074," the examiner said. The item will be placed on the Metropolitan Development Commission docket for its Nov. 19, 2025 meeting.
Ending: The hearing examiner's recommendation advances the rezoning; site-specific engineering, subdivision review and any required road or wetland permits will be considered during subsequent planning and permitting processes.
