The commission previously approved the expansion of the Carriage Trails I subdivision north toward U.S. 40 after a request to annex nearly 300 acres of Bethel Twp./Miami County land to the city was approved in July.
A basic development plan approved in September will facilitate the construction of around 1,500 housing units in total.
The detailed development plan for phase one, submitted by Carriage Trails Co. LLC and GLJ Holding Company LLC, encompasses 47 acres of vacant land at River Birch Street and Carriage Trails Parkway.
Plans outline a proposed 122 building lots and associated retention basins.
According to city staff, the plans for Carriage Trails II closely mirror those of Carriage Trails I.
Ken Conaway with Carriage Trails Co. LLC said during the Dec. 10 planning commission meeting that construction on phase one of the expansion is estimated to begin in March.
Construction of the entire Carriage Trails II subdivision is expected to take place over a 10- to 15-year period and be completed in phases, similar to that of Carriage Trails I.
Construction of Carriage Trails II will lend a visual reminder of what was a drawn out and contentious annexation process, one that included continued pushback from Bethel Twp. leaders and residents of both municipalities.
Those against the annexation and subdivision expansion have long expressed frustration and worry about the potential overcrowding of Bethel schools if hundreds more homes are built on the annexed property. They have also questioned whether adequate public services would be provided to the annexed land, and disliked the loss of a rural feel many associate with Bethel Twp.
A pre-annexation agreement approved alongside the annexation in July stipulates the developer will donate 16 to 18 acres of land in the Carriage Trails II development for construction of a new school and public park, along with 2.5 acres in Carriage Trails I, subject to the homeowners association, for a new fire station.
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