Council advances Sterling Roads annexation and rezoning after developer outlines $6–20M infrastructure package

The Greenwood Common Council advanced the proposed Sterling Roads annexation and rezoning (Ordinance 2619) on June 15 after a developer presentation and public hearing that detailed the project’s layout, product mix and infrastructure commitments.

An attorney for the petitioner said the project, proposed on roughly 193.27 acres near Whitland Road and County Road 200 West, would contain a mix of housing: 236 single‑family detached homes, about 120 paired patio cottages and roughly 128 rear‑load townhomes—about 2.5 units per acre under the developer’s concept. "We try to create communities," developer Joe Laham said, emphasizing preserved woods, greenway trails and amenity areas.

Staff and the developer described 13 subparts of eight commitments the developer agreed to as part of the plan commission recommendation. Those commitments include constructing a gravity sanitary sewer line to the eastern edge of the development (the city requested gravity sewer to avoid additional lift stations), pedestrian crossings on Honey Creek Road, preservation of non‑invasive trees, a traffic study with restricted donations calculated from its results, reconstruction of Whitland Road and Honey Creek Road frontage, and right‑of‑way donations intended to facilitate a future roundabout at the Honey Creek/Whiteland intersection. Planning staff estimated the developer’s early infrastructure peg at approximately $6.8 million to $20 million, including a bridge over Alexander Ditch that the developer characterized as a "bridge to nowhere" at present.

Developer representative Joe Laham asked the council to consider alternatives to building a bridge now, noting the cost burden on the developer and the risk the city would inherit maintenance of a bridge that may not be immediately useful. Planning staff said the bridge and right‑of‑way commitments are intended to avoid leaving incomplete connections that hinder future development and to distribute costs responsibly among developers and jurisdictions.

After public hearing and staff recommendation for approval, the council voted to amend ordinance 2619 (adding a material commitment—"no vinyl") and to pass the ordinance on first reading (roll call recorded as 8–0). Planning staff and the developer said they will return with a final adoption vote in a subsequent meeting after additional negotiation on specified commitments such as the bridge.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2619 (annexation and rezoning for Sterling Roads) — amendment passed 8–0; first reading passed 8–0. The council also advanced several administrative ordinances later in the meeting (Ordinance 2617 and Ordinance 2621), each recorded in separate votes.

Next steps: Developer and staff will refine cost estimates and specific donation amounts (pending traffic impact study results) and return to council for a final vote on annexation and rezoning.