A 13-lot commercial development that was put on hold after a 2018 approval is back.
A major subdivision preliminary plat being called Driftwood Center, Section Two — located west of U.S. 31 and south of County Road 800N — has been approved for a second time by the Bartholomew County Plan Commission.
Developer Mark Pratt said the intended use of the more than 65 acres is for future commercial development. The land is located on the other side of the highway across from Indiana Premium Outlets. Pratt, who owns Breeden Commercial Realtors, said he’s reviving the project because he has some interested buyers.
The entrance to the development will be Fivecoat Drive, a 50-foot wide street running parallel with the highway. Drawings show Fivecoat Drive extending south to Hartman Drive, with a cul-de-sac on the north side.
Three years ago, more than 20 revisions were requested by the city/county planning staff. One year later, the commission’s approval expired when a final plat was not filed.
The latest plan contains fewer revisions. But one change that sparked much discussion at the commission meeting involved decisions made by the Indiana Department of Transportation on how to move northbound vehicles leaving Driftwood Center.
When the initial 2018 approval was given, Breeden Commercial Realtors was told left turns would not be allowed for cars and trucks exiting the property, and that small median openings north and south of Presidential Way would need to be closed.
A planning staff report states the developers would bear the responsibility of design and construction of median and crossover modifications at Presidential Way, which INDOT is saying must be changed from four lanes to two lanes. However, the documents also suggest these changes could be completed without the need of concrete work. Instead, the improvements could be done with pavement markings, striping out the existing left turn lane, the report states.
Another recommendation states that left hand turns on to U.S. 31 from the development would only be allowed at Hartman Drive, as well as at a traffic light that will be installed within a few years at County Road 800N. For those who turn right onto the highway at a different location, an “S” shaped curb median will be created that would allow the vehicles to change direction.
Other preliminary recommendations include:Relocating a temporary turn-around on Fivecoat Drive farther south that originally planned to comply with the cul-de-sac length of a maximum of 1,000 feet.
Accommodate INDOT’s comments regarding the median and access limitations on the highway.
If the developer wants to subdivide the parcels into smaller lots, an interior street such as a frontage road would have to be built with sidewalks, the written recommendations state.
With the growth of industrial developments north and east of Indiana Premium Outlets, there is a blend of semis and shoppers using mall exits. That created a dangerous situation that has led safety officials in Edinburgh to push for a traffic signal at Road 800N as soon as possible.
Although every effort is being made by INDOT and local officials to move up the timeline, what appears to look like Road 800N west of the highway is actually a private drive. Therefore, highway officials would need coordination and cooperation from neighbors and utilities for traffic from Driftwood Center to use 800N as an exit on to the highway.
No matter how much work is done to fast-track the effort, Bartholomew County Commissioner Tony London said the stoplight probably won’t be installed until 2024. When London suggested a stoplight at Presidential Way for those west of the highway, Edinburgh Town Manager Dan Cartright said he felt that would increase the number of accidents and delay improvements while new plans were being drawn up.
INDOT currently has a bid opening in December 2023 for the traffic light at the location. Extending Fivecoat Drive to the north would allow traffic to circulate to the future light at 800N, rather than travel south to Hartman Drive (which currently has a light). However, using this 800N access would require some additional coordination with neighbors, INDOT and utilities.
