Greenwood council rejects rezoning for 96-acre "Shorts Farm" after amendment approved

The Greenwood Common Council voted Feb. 18 to reject Ordinance 2603, a petition to change zoning on roughly 96.09 acres known in the packet as the Shorts Farm. Council members recorded a 3–6 vote in favor, failing to pass the rezoning after earlier adopting a council amendment to restrict higher-end "masterpiece" homes to the Honey Creek frontage.

The developer's representative, identified in meeting materials as John J. Cam of Galen Associates, presented the plan as a mix of five single-family product types and a combination of RA and RM zoning. "We have five different home series trying to have a little bit of something for everyone," the applicant said, describing commitments to roadway widening, roundabout contributions and a traffic study.

Resident John D'Angelo urged the council to deny the petition, calling the plan inconsistent with the neighborhood's low-density character. "This development proposal violates every tenant in every textbook that's ever been written," D'Angelo said, arguing the site could not support the estimated additional vehicle trips and that sewer and electrical systems were designed for lower densities.

Planning staff member Nelson told the council the petition was consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and staff recommendations. "This is not a high density development," Nelson said. "This is higher density. It's not high density. So that is just not true that low density development is the best for the taxpayer," Nelson added, arguing that density helps spread infrastructure costs across more taxpayers.

During council discussion, member Hopper moved an amendment to require the most expensive "masterpiece" product be placed along Honey Creek Road; Gibson seconded and the amendment passed on roll call, 9–0. Despite that amendment, the final vote on Ordinance 2603 failed 3–6.

The developer had highlighted several commitments that staff and the petitioner said were intended to address traffic and infrastructure impacts, including roadway widening, contributions to a planned roundabout and a planned trail extension; Clark Pleasant Community Schools provided a letter indicating no capacity concerns in the school system. The council did not vote to remand or continue the ordinance, and no subsequent action was made explicit during the meeting.

With the ordinance failing, the property's zoning remains as previously recorded until the petitioner returns with a revised application or other next steps are filed with city staff.