Allen Lane apartments

Took PTO to oppose the 94-apartment Allen Lane project, questioning the 59-car peak trip count for 182 parking spaces, drainage into their pond, fire-truck turnaround issues and school bus overcrowding.

Suggested routing the rail trail into downtown LaGrange instead of apartments, wants a fence near the railroad, green space in the plan, and landscaping at the I-71/Allen Drive interchange.

Pushed back hard on the 'city of LaGrange issue' framing, saying magistrates are the voters' representatives and urging them to oppose the project and defend the Artisan Park neighborhood.

Challenged the 59-car peak estimate, arguing 96 units with two parking spaces each should trigger a number far closer to 100 and thus a full traffic study.

The Artisan Park HOA president asked how this plan differs from the 2022 'Flats of Allen Lane' proposal that was denied, and questioned traffic on Allen Lane and the road's future configuration.

Pastor of Covenant Church asked planners to be mindful of drainage issues on church property and of cumulative construction disruption, noting contractors are already staging equipment on church land.

Magistrate Hawkins, representing the district, proposed postponing the project until the Allen Lane reconstruction is complete, citing changing retention pond placement and rights-of-way.

Worried the apartments near the tracks will attract lower-income young families, asked where children will play, and urged fencing to keep kids away from the railroad tracks.

His Wilmar Court property abuts the detention basin; he asked about a privacy fence or noise screening between the apartments and backyards.

Asked whether a cut-through to Artisan Park is possible and about school crowding from added children.

Questioned why the setback to the railroad and subdivision side is only 7.5 feet versus 25 feet elsewhere; staff explained the R-4 setback rules and the applicant noted buildings sit 30-40 feet off the line.

Asked the developer about a rejected offer to buy her adjacent lot; the developer said the intent was to secure a sewer easement on the unbuildable parcel.

Said a large apartment building would overlook his backyard and asked for more privacy than the required tree buffer provides.