Arbor Homes’ proposed Isabelle Farms subdivision did not get preliminary plat approval from the Shelbyville Plan Commission.

At Monday night’s meeting at City Hall, too many questions arose as to public notice of the meeting and an aforementioned landscape buffer around the entire property for the Plan Commission to approve the plat.

The commission chose to continue the discussion at its next meeting on June 27.

Arbor Homes appeared before the Plan Commission for the first time since a June 28, 2021, meeting where the project’s planned unit development detail plan was presented.

Lantz McElroy represented Arbor Homes Monday and cited drainage issues that had to be addressed before the project could move forward.

Isabelle Farms is now slated to be a 254-lot subdivision with entrances on N. Riley Highway (State Road 9) and Michigan Road. The project now includes the city building a roundabout on N. Riley Highway at the subdivision’s eastern entrance.

What the project no longer includes is a 30-foot landscape buffer around the entire project. That was pointed out by Duane Schuler, 1574 Rolling Ridge Rd., who attended and took notes during the June 28 meeting.

Plan Commission president Michael Evans asked city plan director Adam Rude to find the meeting minutes from the June 28 meeting where it was noted that then Arbor Homes representative Caitlin Dopher stated the landscape buffer would indeed surround the property.

McElroy could not answer when or why the change in the plat was made, although Evans noted there were still buffers in place and some of the property originally detailed as landscape buffer was added to lots within the subdivision.

Several residents that live in the area attended the meeting and expressed a lack of communication on Arbor Homes’ part with regard to presenting at a public meeting. McElroy stressed that letters were delivered to the post office, but there was no direct answer why the residents did not receive them.

Much of the discussion Monday centered around separating Isabelle Farms from the Rolling Ridge subdivision to the north and from residences already established along N. Riley Highway.

“I’m not part of this subdivision. I don’t want to be part of this subdivision,” said Charlie Hentz, who lives at 1443 N. Riley Highway.

With several steps to complete before dirt can be moved, McElroy estimated it will be spring of 2023 before construction equipment will arrive on site.

In other commission business Monday:

• The commission sent a favorable recommendation to the city’s Common Council with regard to the Pyatt Builders’ Twelve Oaks subdivision phase II detailed plan and approved the preliminary plat. Pyatt intends to build 148 homes on the city’s southwest side to expand the Twelve Oaks subdivision.
• The commission sent a favorable recommendation to the council to rezone two vacant lots at the corner of Pike St. and Locust St. from PK (parks and open space) to R2 (two-family residential). The property owned by Allen & Allen LLC is being prepared for development of building that would house two rental apartments.

• The commission sent a favorable recommendation to the council to rezone 310 Second St. from R1 (single-family residential) to BN (business neighborhood) so that it may be developed for commercial use by Allen & Allen LLC. While sitting in a residential neighborhood, the building (photo) has been used for prior commercial businesses.