Summertree development annexed into Crown Point
The Crown Point City Council on Monday voted to annex in the Summertree subdivision at 101st Avenue and Colorado Street.
The annexation area is about 60 acres and plans call for more than 130 upscale single-family homes to join the 30-plus residences already in place.
Most of the annexation is located within the Merrillville Conservatory District, save for about one acre. Officials said in 2006 that property owner chose not to be part of the MCD.
James Yannakopoulos, an attorney for developer CP Real Estate Holdings Inc., said they would like those lots to be annexed with commitments stating owners there would not look to Crown Point for sewage and waste water.
Yannakopoulos shot down discussion of excluding the property from annexation because it would affect three neighboring parcels in MCD’s jurisdiction.
If excluded, Yannakopoulos said a planned road in the subdivision would not by symmetrical and it would not be the most feasible layout of lots and land as the road would have to curve around the property in question.
Yannakopoulos also said annexation would allow developers to extend California Street to Colorado, which would address complaints of current residents that construction traffic clogs the only entrance into Summertree on 101st Avenue.
Yannakopoulos said “strong language” in the plan would prevent any new construction in the parcel not already included in the MCD.
The council passed the ordinance allowing the annexation on certain conditions, including that the city would not be responsible for the cost of water infrastructure in the area.
The parcels not in the MCD will be dedicated as a green space or park use. No building permits can be allowed and anyone seeking to build there would have to go through multiple approvals for it to be changed to usable lots.
The annexation had to be completed before the end of the year or it would have had to wait until 2020 because of the that year’s census, officials said.
Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.