By DAVE SCHULTZ
The revision of Bluffton’s city standards is closer to completion, but in the meantime, a subdivision being constructed on the city’s south side has received approval for variances to the existing standards.
Greenfield Farms, off of Clark Avenue/Hoosier Highway on the city’s south side, came to the Bluffton Common Council last week to ask for approval for two items — the use of mandatory lighting systems in the yards of each house, and using PVC pipe for water systems instead of ductile iron.
Greenfield Farms has used the individual lighting systems instead of city streetlights in other subdivisions it has constructed, and the core of its request to the council Tuesday night was to continue that practice. The use of PVC pipe is already in the proposed revision to the city standards, which are now being reviewed by Board of Works members — Mayor John Whicker, Scott Mentzer, and Roger Thornton.
The subdivision, as presented to the city in 2021, will add 46 houses to the city. The development plan has already been approved by the Wells County Area Plan Commission.
The council approved the request Tuesday with all five council members — Josh Hunt, Thornton, Rick Elwell, Mentzer, and Janella Stronczyk — allowing for the variances.
Various developers and building contractors have asked the city to revise its standards, claiming that Bluffton’s requirements are more stringent than necessary. The city has embarked on a potential revision of the standards, and the Butler Fairman Seufert engineering firm has compiled an extensive proposal of the standards.
That proposal was tabled by the Board of Works to allow board members to review it.
City standards being reviewed; subdivision receives variances daves@news-banner.com
