Council approves subdivision and development-agreement amendments for Old Deerfield Road project after changes to inclusionary plan and signage

The City Council considered three linked items related to properties at 1660 and 1700 Old Deerfield Road: (A) a resolution approving a plat of subdivision; (B) an ordinance amending a special‑use permit, plan development and the inclusionary housing plan; and (C) a resolution approving a first amendment to the development agreement between the city and HDC MIHP Venture LLC.

Staff described two recommended floor amendments before the council vote: first, a revision to plan sheet 3 to remove a request to vacate a recorded instrument (document no. 3495229) until staff had time to review the existing easement; second, clarifying language in the development agreement about which public improvements the city will accept after construction and inspection, specifically identifying sanitary and potable water mains to be accepted and noting that other private improvements (roads, stormwater, lighting, sidewalks, curbs and gutters) would remain privately maintained.

Council member Littlewood raised questions about the change to the inclusionary housing mix: the market-rate units were changed from a mix that included two‑bedroom units to all three‑bedroom units, and the inclusionary units were changed to match the market-rate bedroom mix. Zachary Kenitzer, planning and entitlements manager for MI Homes (the applicant), told the council, "the reason that we move from 2 to 3 bedrooms is, marketing purposes," adding that there is greater demand for three‑bedroom units and that the affordable inventory reflects similar demand.

Council members also questioned site details including removal of path lights within a conservation easement, buffer treatments near the Bluegrass restaurant, and proposed signage. One council member criticized the scale of a proposed sign as "ugly simply by virtue of its immense scale" and the applicant agreed to reduce sign size, proposing two 8‑by‑8 signs temporarily and removal of one Ridge Road sign after three years or upon final sale.

MI Homes also described construction-site controls for dust and debris, saying the company uses "best in class vendors" for street watering, street sweeping and concrete washout controls and that staff will inspect projects and can issue citations if warranted.

After discussion and the staff-proposed amendments, the council approved items A, B and C as amended by voice vote (recorded as ayes, no nays). The approval included the condition that the vacate request not be finalized until required background documentation is reviewed and the development agreement language be clarified to identify sanitary and potable water mains as city‑accepted public improvements upon completion and inspection.

The council concluded the meeting by adjourning.