Brownsburg council approves Auburn Ridge West rezoning in 3–2 vote after traffic, road‑standard debate

The Town of Brownsburg Town Council voted 3–2 on April 9 to approve ordinance 2026‑03, rezoning approximately 64 acres at 5050 East 450 North from AG to a mix of R1 and R2 to allow the Auburn Ridge West development. The motion was moved and seconded and passed on a roll call in which Mr. Adams voted opposed, Mr. D'Shane and Mr. Simpson voted in favor, Miss Holman voted opposed, and Mr. Lacey voted in favor.

The council heard more than an hour of public comment and detailed presentations from staff and the applicant before voting. Council and residents focused squarely on traffic and long‑term road standards for the Tilden Drive extension and nearby intersections. Resident Emily Simmons told the council that reductions in the latest filing—two fewer homes than the prior proposal—“do not materially change the traffic or infrastructure demand,” and urged council to ensure changes address the reasons for the previous unfavorable APC recommendation.

Town staff explained ongoing transportation work in the corridor, saying studies are under way along the Northfield/Green corridor that could include added turn lanes, realignments and signalization but require property acquisitions and additional design work. Staff also said environmental review and related work on a proposed new interchange remain at an early stage and could take additional years before construction.

The applicant, MI Homes, described revisions from earlier submissions: the latest plan devotes about two‑thirds of the acreage to R1, reduces the R2 acreage and includes a formal commitment capping R2 lots at no more than 34 for the project. MI Homes also committed to a per‑home contribution of $4,144 to help fund intersection and road improvements and proposed a pavement‑depth option that the applicant estimated could save roughly $150,000 in construction costs, part of which would be shared with the town. The applicant and its engineer told council stormwater would be detained on site and that the developer must upgrade the lift station to meet sewer‑capacity requirements.

Jennifer Lewis, reading a letter on behalf of landowner Linda Davis, said the project would extend Tilden Drive to 500 East as a 36‑foot, three‑lane roadway “complete at the expense of MI Homes,” and asserted the development would generate additional property tax revenue to support local services.

Council members pressed the applicant and staff on cul‑de‑sac versus connector decisions, the pavement cross‑section and long‑term safety and emergency access. Several council members and residents said traffic remains the primary concern despite the applicant’s commitments and traffic study results.

After the exchange, the ordinance was moved, seconded and approved for first and second reading on the same night by roll call. The council’s action allows the rezoning to move forward subject to the commitments and technical review noted in the staff report. The council did not adopt additional modifications to Commitment #7 on the record; several residents asked the council later in the public‑comment period to clarify the wording to ensure long‑term capacity and the town’s transportation plan were protected.

The developer said it does not anticipate housing starts before 2028 and stressed the project would include on‑site buffers and amenities required by the UDO. The council acknowledged receipt of the project materials and associated commitments; the project will next proceed under the town’s established review and permitting processes.

Votes and next steps: the ordinance passed 3–2 on the council floor; staff and the applicant said additional engineering, right‑of‑way acquisition and environmental work related to corridor improvements remain ongoing and will shape the timing of off‑site improvements.