McCORDSVILLE — Town leaders like the concept and products behind a proposed development for nearly 200 homes. They just don’t like the location.

Platinum Properties and Beazer Homes pitched the idea for nearly 200 homes on 80 acres south of County Road 700W east of the Champion Lake neighborhood. The firms were eyeing the area for a low-maintenance neighborhood of single-family and duplex ranches targeted toward residents age 55 and older.

Conceptual plans called for 107 single-family homes and 90 duplexes, all with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with the single-family homes having the option for a third bedroom. Price points range from $400,000 to $450,000 in today’s dollars for the single-family homes and $300,000 to $350,000 for the duplexes.

With a variety of exterior styles, the community would’ve been similar to ones the companies have done in Westfield and Fishers.

Beazer Homes and Platinum Properties representatives described the proposed development as an “active adult neighborhood” with a clubhouse, pickleball courts and a potential partnership with the Hancock Health Wellness Center in town.

The site is just southeast of one slated for The Colonnade, a neighborhood of nearly 300 homes on about 100 acres that Platinum Properties and Beazer Homes are planning just south of Mc-Cordsville’s future town center site.

Both companies discussed their latest proposal for McCordsville at Tuesday night’s town council meeting. They were hoping to get a thumbs-up from council members to pursue a rezoning petition, which the town’s plan commission would’ve considered before the council contemplated approval.

But council members indicated they wouldn’t support the plan as currently proposed.

Council president Tom Strayer recalled how officials pushed the developers to lower The Colonnade’s housing density near Champion Lake so it would be more consistent with the existing neighborhood. He added that the latest proposal, with its higher density, would clash with that.

“I wouldn’t mind this product if it was in a different location,” Strayer said, with council members Larry Longman and Branden Williams agreeing.

If the proposal did go forward, council member Greg Brewer said he would’ve preferred to see the duplexes age-restricted rather than age-targeted.

“I’m not a big fan of duplexes at all in that area; I don’t think that’s where that needs to be — that type of product — unless there’s going to be an age restriction of 55 and older,” Brewer said.

Ann Kloc, a land acquisition director with Beazer Homes, said the company is hesitant to do that because of the duplexes’ popularity among empty-nesters younger than 55.
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