MERRILLVILLE | A second access road to the Preserves is what kept the Plan Commission on Tuesday from approving the development of additional lots in the subdivision.

The commission denied New Century Development's petition to develop the lots, as many commissioners wanted the developer to add an access road for safety.

"We need a second entrance and exit right now," Commissioner Brian Dering said.

Attorney Todd Etzler said the town should be responsible for building the road as a previous Town Council administration made them remove a road stub that could have been used for the access road.

Commissioners Terrell Taylor and Richard Hardaway, who also serve as councilmen, agreed the developer shouldn't be accountable for a problem it didn't create.

Town Council President Shawn Pettit spoke against the project during the meeting and said the town can't afford to build a new access road in the community.

"We can barely pave and rehabilitate the streets now," Pettit said.

He also said the developer had three years to work on a plan for an additional access road, and he would vote against the project if it made it to the Town Council unless a second access road is planned.