By Rick Myers and Chris Cornwall
Developers of the proposed Countryside Crossing, a mixed commercial/industrial/residential planned unit development (PUD), will have to wait a few more weeks to see if the Avon Town Council approves a zoning ordinance to allow the multi-use development.
The proposed development, filed by MDW&B Reality, LLC, would pave the way for 33.18 acres at the southeast corner of Dan Jones Road and CR 100 N to be used for a senior living community, retail and self-storage units.
A majority of those demonstrating against the PUD at Thursday night’s council meeting cited potential crime stemming from the presence of the self-storage units, as well as aesthetic/privacy and traffic worries. There were a few who spoke in favor of the PUD.
“We know that something is going to be built,” said Chelsea Collins. “We just don’t want the storage units and things that don’t belong in a neighborhood.” Said Louise Watkins: “I think this plan … will not create more traffic.”
“I struggle with this a bit,” said councilman Steve Eisenbarth, who made a motion to reject the ordinance. Council president Marcus Turner seconded the motion and it fell to a 2-2 tie due to councilman Aaron Tevebaugh’s absence. Clerk-Treasurer Sharon Howell could have broken the tie but declined, which, under council rules, was an option.
Then councilman Greg Zusan made a motion and councilwomen Dawn Lowden seconded the motion to accept the ordinance based on amendment recommendations by the Avon Planning Department; that, too, ended in a 2-2 tie and Howell again declined to break the tie.
The ordinance will came back to the council at its June 27 meeting at Avon Town Hall. All council members were present for the meeting.
The council approved the rezoning of 33-acres of farmland southeast of Dan Jones and CR 100 N. to make way for a mixed-use development. It was the third and final reading of ordinance 2019-09 which ended in a 3-2 vote in favor of changing the land’s agricultural status to a PUD. Council members Aaron Tevebaugh, Dawn Lowden and Greg Zusan voted to approve the ordinance while council president Marcus Turner and vice president Steve Eisenbarth voted to reject it.
