A proposed 413-home neighborhood in Noblesville cleared a key step on Oct. 26, when the Noblesville Plan Commission gave Forest View Farms a favorable recommendation. The project, planned for about 215 acres near 166th Street and Olio Road, now heads to the Noblesville Common Council for a final vote (via Current in Noblesville).
M/I Homes is the builder, with Drees Homes on board as co-builder. The developers are asking the city to annex the land and rezone it from A2 General Agriculture to R3 Residential, along with a Flood Hazard District designation.
What's planned
The plan calls for a mix of ranch and two-story homes priced from the low $400,000s up to about $700,000, according to Current. Amenities would include walking trails, a clubhouse, a pool, pocket parks, a playground and a disc golf course.
Jon Dobosiewicz, a land use professional with Nelson and Frankenberger who spoke for the developer, said the site falls in the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district, which has not raised concerns about capacity for more students. He said significant improvements would be made along the edges of the site and that intersection improvements in the area are coming.
"Each and every home that is constructed within the development will pay road impact fees to the City of Noblesville, and the city prioritizes those improvements that are coming to the area," Dobosiewicz said.
If the council approves the project, it will go through technical review, where stormwater plans will get a closer look, he said.
Neighbors push back
Not everyone is on board. Larry Barker, who said he's lived in the area for 45 years, raised concerns at the plan commission meeting about taxes, crowded classrooms, road congestion and how sewer service would reach the site.
"Is the sewage going to be pumped all the way to town? Are they going to have to bring septic or sewer lines out?" Barker asked.
He also questioned whether area roads and schools can handle the growth.
Current's report didn't give a date for the council vote.
Why it matters for Contractors
Forest View Farms isn't approved yet, and production builders like M/I and Drees bring their own trade networks. But a 413-home community with a clubhouse, pool and trail system is a lot of work in one place, and it won't all go to the same handful of crews.
For small shops in Hamilton County, a few things are worth watching:
The council vote. Common Council agendas on the city's website will show when Forest View Farms comes up for a final decision.
Site and utility work. The neighbor questions about sewer service and the developer's mention of perimeter road improvements and stormwater review point to significant site development before homes go up. Excavation, utility and stormwater contractors should track the technical review stage.
The amenity package. Clubhouses, pools, playgrounds and trail systems are often bid separately from the home packages, which can open the door to smaller specialty contractors.
Builder trade partner programs. If you want work on the homes themselves, the path usually runs through the builders' own vendor and trade partner sign-ups rather than the developer.