The final plats for the Greenbrier subdivision sections II and III were unanimously approved by the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday night. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — There were some questions about asphalt, detention ponds and greenspace, but ultimately the final plats for sections II and III of the Greenbrier subdivision were unanimously approved Monday, April 14, by the Warsaw Plan Commission.

In presenting the final plat for Greenbrier section II to the commission, City Planner Justin Taylor said the subdivision is just north of the Warsaw Municipal Airport and The Dells subdivision. The petitioner wants to subdivide 14.34 acres into 33 lots. Section II of the Greenbrier subdivision received preliminary approval from the Warsaw Plan Commission in 2021 and from the Technical Advisory Committee in 2024, he said.

“There are a couple outstanding infrastructure issues that I would like to comment on real quick and why I’m going to make a favorable recommendation that we approve this plat despite those issues,” Taylor said. “There is some surface coating on the asphalt. I’ve spoken to the petition at length about this issue. They have committed, and they’ve attached a letter of commitment as well, about getting the asphalt finished.”

He said the city does have other mechanisms as well to make sure the asphalt gets done, but they wanted to give them a favorable recommendation on the platting so they can move forward on other infrastructure as well such as NIPSCO.

“There is another issue dealing with the detention ponds that we’re currently navigating with the petitioner. They’re not functioning as designed,” Taylor said. “Currently, we are working with them on a solution as well.”

Commission member Michelle Boxell asked Taylor what he meant when he said the detention ponds weren’t working as intended. Taylor said the water is remaining in the basins longer than it should. “We want to be very sensitive about that because of the proximity of this development to the airport,” he said, as standing water may attract birds.

Oakmont Development, the developer of the property, is aware of the issue and is working on it “actively.”

Commission President Rick Keeven asked if there was a soil problem. City engineer Aaron Ott said they suspect some sedimentation got in and is causing problems to the infiltration rates so some excavation needs done to remove the sedimentation and dig deeper into the more infiltrative soils, as well as build a more robust infiltration trench.

Councilwoman Diane Quance about greenspace as one of the lots was supposed to be greenspace but she didn’t see any.

A.J. Thomas, with Oakmont Development, pointed out the greenspace on the plat but it was a block area along the main road. Quance said that wasn’t enough, there was supposed to be more useable greenspace.

Dave Baumgartner, commission member, asked about the price range of the houses. Thomas said they were in the ballpark of $250,000 to $350,000, but the smaller lots will be less than that.

Councilman Juergen Voss made the motion to approve the final plat, Baumgartner seconded it and the motion passed unanimously.

Taylor then presented the final plat for section III, the planned unit development phase of the development. The petitioner wanted to subdivide 9 acres into 42 lots, containing attached single-family units. The preliminary plat for the PUD was previously approved by the plan commission, city council and the Technical Advisory Commission.

Voss asked about the setbacks, but Taylor said with a PUD they have smaller setbacks and a structure that saddles the lots. Side setbacks are 5 feet.

Asked about the price point of the homes in the PUD, Thomas said about $245,000 to $275,000.

Quance asked if the homes were all villas or if there were any single residences. Thomas said section III was all attached villas.

Quance made a motion to approve the final plat, Boxell seconded it and the motion passed unanimously.