Plymouth Plan Commission grants Crossroads Church's request to not install sidewalks with building project

Crossroads Church at 1650 North Oak Drive was granted a waiver, so it won’t have to install sidewalks as part of its new building project.

Last week, the Plymouth Plan Commission heard the church’s request for an abatement of development standards to install an ADA-approved sidewalk along the front of their property.  The sidewalk requirement comes with the construction of a new addition to the facility. 

City Attorney Jeff Houin filled in for the Plymouth Plan Director Ty Adley, who couldn’t be at the meeting. He told the Commission that the city is anticipating an expansion and enhancement of pedestrian sidewalks in the area, with the assistance of grant funds that they will apply for.  Crossroads would like to wait until the city is ready to move forward with its project before it installs the sidewalks along its property. 

Houin said there have been previous agreements with Plumlee Dentistry and Collins, which each granted the city 10-foot easements for future sidewalk projects. In that area, when the city expanded the width of the road, it used the right-of-way. As a result, there is no space to install sidewalks without acquiring land from the various businesses. The city attorney said the city would cover the cost of installing the sidewalk in exchange for the 10-foot easements.

The agreement with Crossroads Church would be similar. It would not be required to install sidewalks, and in exchange, it would grant the city a 10-foot right-of-way easement when the city is ready to proceed with its project. 

Plan Commission member Fred Webster asked where the city’s Complete Streets Committee was in the process of the sidewalk project.

The attorney said it is in the hands of the city’s engineering department. Dan Sellers, the City Engineer, said they have inquired with INDOT about opportunities for funding the project. He said it will apply for a grant in November, but it won’t be awarded until early spring 2026. The proposed project has sidewalks on both sides of the roadway from U.S. 30 to Lake Avenue/State Road 17 with an estimated cost of $4 million.

The Complete Streets Committee hired Troyer Group to provide preliminary concepts for the project: one is cost-effective and straightforward, while the other is very detailed and expensive.  The city engineer has taken elements from both designs to create a more realistic, middle-of-the-road project for the city.

Plan Commission member Angie Rupchock-Schafer had some concerns about granting exceptions to the city code that requires the installation of sidewalks with new development. She said grants aren’t a sure thing, and if the Plan Commission adhered to the written ordinance, sidewalks would be installed, and development would grow.

Houin told Plan Commission members, “If it were purely speculative, then I would probably agree with you. In this case, along Oak Drive, we’ve identified the project, and the city council has made clear that this is a top priority. They want the pedestrian infrastructure along Oak Drive.”

The attorney said that if the church built the required sidewalk along the front of their property, it might not match the city’s project because it would be built to the minimum standards. 

Houin said if the city isn’t successful with the annual November grant, there is another opportunity next June to apply for assistance. He said this administration is working hard to get this project underway. 

Following discussion, the Plymouth Plan Commission approved the Crossroads Church request to waive the requirement to install sidewalks, contingent upon their signing an agreement to grant the city a 10-foot easement for a sidewalk. The motion passed 7-2, with Plan Commission members Randy Longanecker and Angie Rupchock-Schafer voting against the waiver.