Martinsville council annexes 68.95-acre Sun Energy Farms; approves fiscal plan for services

Martinsville — The Martinsville Common Council on Monday approved Ordinance 2025‑1908 to annex about 68.95 acres of the Sun Energy Farms property into city limits and adopted a companion fiscal plan to extend services.

Cheyenne Hoffa, entitlements manager for 4 Star Group Indianapolis, told the council the developer seeks annexation first and would later pursue rezoning to a planned-unit development. Hoffa said the current preliminary site plan shows roughly 155 single‑family lots and that the developer would construct and pay for on‑site utilities. She said Faith Church has discussed selling a strip of land so a primary entrance could be placed on State Road 44 rather than State Road 252.

Council members and staff questioned safety and access. Hoffa said the developer has engaged with the Indiana Department of Transportation (NDOT) and that NDOT preliminarily recommended a three‑way controlled stop and a turn lane if access remained on 252. City staff said many details — including final access, drainage, and utility extensions — will be examined by the planning commission and during the rezoning process.

The council also approved Resolution 2025‑0719, the written fiscal plan for the annexation. Hoffa said legal counsel and the city attorney assisted in preparing the plan and that county American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds — about $1.5 million, she said — will help extend water and sewer near the site; she said major service extensions are expected to be in place before homes are built. Hoffa added that routine city services such as trash and snow removal would be provided once annexation is complete.

A motion to approve the annexation and fiscal plan passed after council discussion. The ordinance and fiscal plan were presented as voluntary annexation, with the landowner reportedly supporting annexation; additional technical approvals and conditions remain part of later planning and zoning reviews.

The annexation vote followed the council’s consent agenda and several other ordinances on the evening’s docket. The planning commission will review the site plan, access details and any required traffic or drainage studies as the proposal proceeds.