Plan Commission recommends Woodland Grove PUD to council with conditions on signs and plan fidelity

PLAN COMMISSION SETS CONDITIONS BEFORE SENDING PUD TO COUNCIL The Zionsville Plan Commission voted 4–1 on March 16 to send the Woodland Grove Planned Unit Development, proposed by Pitman Partners, to the Town Council with a favorable recommendation and several additional conditions aimed at strengthening plan fidelity and limiting signage. Pitman Partners’ attorney Kyle Russet and developer Steve Pitman said they revised the PUD text after staff comments and public feedback to reduce density, raise architectural and landscape standards, add a tree‑preservation area and require dark‑sky, full‑cutoff street lighting. The ordinance text also limits a small commercial café and includes aggressive anti‑monotony rules for townhomes. NEIGHBORS AND THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY RAISE OBJECTIONS Speakers from neighboring properties and the Hamilton County Airport Authority urged the commission to reject the Overland Commons portion of the PUD because the airport land‑use plan recommends avoiding new residential construction in the approach zone and because they feared the PUD’s townhome density would not match the largely estate‑lot character to the north. Several neighbors asked the commission to prioritize conservation of property values and compatibility with adjacent single‑family neighborhoods. COMMISSION CONDITIONS Commissioners debated several technical items before voting. They asked staff and the petitioner for: - stronger language tying the final development plan to the approved concept plan (commissioners asked that the final plan be “materially consistent” with the concept plan rather than allowing wide variations); - tighter sign standards, including a cap of about 150 square feet for wall signs (one sign for interior commercial tenants, two for corner tenants) and a single gateway sign at the Michigan Road entrance; and - implementation of an updated traffic impact study to staff satisfaction. Pitman Partners agreed to those conditions during the hearing. The motion carried 4–1 and the PUD will proceed to town council review with those added commitments. NEXT STEPS Town Council will consider the PUD ordinance and any associated plats. The plan commission’s conditions will be included in the record and staff will track required plan modifications and the traffic study before council action. — Sources: presentation and public hearing, March 16, 2026 Zionsville Plan Commission meeting