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Warsaw Common Councilmen Tuesday tabled the ordinance regarding Housing Opportunities of Warsaw's request for a planned unit development in a 4-to-3 vote.
Although George Clemens, Bob Morrison and Jerry Patterson wanted to proceed with a decision, Jeff Grose, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith and Joe Thallemer agreed with Thallemer's suggestion to postpone the item until the March 15 council meeting.
The motion came after Rolling Hills resident Brian Gosney requested more time for a property value study. Rolling Hills residents maintain the development - to house low- to moderate-income senior citizens - will negatively affect the resale value of their homes.
HOW has an option on 4.3 acres west of Ind. 15, south of Gilliam Drive.
The development plan shows nine building sites with 19 units - eight duplexes (of 720 square feet each) and one triplex - with carports.
The plan commission, charged with conservation of property values, made no recommendation to the council regarding the development during the plan commission's Feb. 9 meeting. Because of their action, the item cannot return to the commissioners.
Rhoades, who attended the plan commission meeting, said he was more confused than ever about the PUD. He is the council's representative on the HOW board of directors.
Both Thallemer and Grose are members of the plan commission, too. At that meeting, HOW presented a Land Plan Group market study, which indicated the senior housing development wouldn't have a negative economic impact on Rolling Hills subdivision properties.
Joe Hamilton, a Coldwell Banker real estate broker, also spoke at the plan commission meeting. Asked by the Rolling Hills Property Owners Association to appear, he said he could not give a percentage of depreciation to property values, but senior housing on Gilliam Drive would be a detriment to other property owners because it is different.
A market study provided by Mark Rattermann, an appraiser from Indianapolis, also was provided by the citizens of Rolling Hills at the plan commission meeting.
Last night, Steve Snyder, HOW's attorney, said an appraiser could give only their opinion about the PUD's effect on property values because there are no other like developments in close proximity to the residential subdivision for a comparative evaluation.
Rolling Hills residents were notified of HOW's plans for senior housing in October. HOW representatives sponsored a well-attended public meeting Dec. 5 in Center Lake Pavilion.
