Homestead Development – Prior to Plan Commission Approval

Click here to view the Oaks Association residents’ Letter of Concern to the Allen County Plan Commission.

Comments from Matt Canterbury – Vice President of Homestead Development

To clarify some questions and concerns the letter shared, please see the following:

  1. What may be unclear in the initial waiver submission is that the berm will remain as is, the fence will remain as is, and we will be planting evergreen trees in the buffer zone between the fence and our buildings. This tree planting plan can be seen in the “Landscape Buffer – click here ”.
  2. In regards to the height and impact of our development as compared to the Oak Crossing Apartments – we believe it to be a good comparison and have taken the Oaks Assoc. HOA’s comments to heart to perform the following study shown on the “Site Line Study – click here”.
    1. It shows both the Multifamily impact as well as the Senior Living impact and references height elevations per the attached “alta survey – click here” (you may need to zoom in).
    2. Main Notes:
      1. The Ft Wayne Zoning Requirement for this site allows commercial buildings to be 40 feet in height while maintaining a 40 foot property setback. Our setbacks from the property line for the Multifamily is at 48’ and our Senior living is at 80’.
      2. Comparatively, our Multifamily is nearly DOUBLE the setback from the property line that the Oak Crossing Apartments is. Ours is at 48’ versus an estimated 25’ setback at the Oaks Crossing Apts.
      3. Our Multifamily is the same height as their buildings – 3 story with a pitched roof.
      4. The Oaks Crossing Apartments is estimated at a grade level of 814 versus our estimated grade level of 818 – an estimated 4’ difference.
    3. RESULTS of the site line study display there is less of a site line impact due to the increased setback, even with a 4’ differential being set into the land. Further, as the new evergreen tree line matures, we believe it to be less and less visually impactful. Certainly not worse, and very comparable.
  3. The Senior Building appears to be even less impactful than the Multifamily building as it is setback even further from the property line, and with the berm and fence remaining, the study shows that is has very minimal site impact.