An Aug. 26 proposal that would establish a subdivision on Fayetteville’s largest remaining undeveloped tract located on Redwine Road received a 3-2 vote at the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission which will recommend to the City Council that the plan be denied.
The 60-acre tract along Redwine Road is owned by the Oddo family, which includes Fayetteville Councilman Paul Oddo and Fayette County Commissioner Chuck Oddo.
Voting to recommend denial were commissioners Bill Talley, Derryll Anderson and Mike Menchinger. Commissioners Ken Collins and Debi Renfroe voted against denial.
The proposal will go before the City Council on Sept. 4 and again on Sept. 18 where a vote is expected. Councilman Oddo will not take part in the discussions or the vote.
Several neighbors from the Lakemont and Quail Hollow subdivisions spoke during public comments. Their primary objections dealt with stormwater runoff, increased traffic in the area and a recommendation by the fire marshal that a road in Quail Hollow tie in to the proposed subdivision to allow two points of entrance and exit. That suggestion is part of the International Fire Code that cannot be enforced unless the city adopts the code.
The concept plan for the subdivision showed three retention ponds to address stormwater runoff. Those plans, and others pertaining to a variety of additional issues, are addressed by planning commissioners during the development phase of the project if rezoning is approved, said Chairman Sarah Murphy.
Project representatives asked to have the 59.62-acre property along Redwine Road rezoned from R-30 (.75-acre lots) to R-22 (.5-acre lots). A portion of the property is the site of Oddo Brothers CPA located at 819 Redwine Road. A number of the lots in the proposal are significantly larger than a half-acre.
Normally, an R-22 zoning for 60 acres could mean up to 120 homes, though the proposal limits the number of homes to 77.
The current R-30 zoning from 2007 would allow 84 homes to be constructed while the R-22 proposal asks for 77 homes. It was recommended by city Community Development Director Brian Wismer to have the 77-home limit included as a condition on the proposal. In the staff report, Wismer said the proposed R-22 zoning is virtually identical to the current R-30 zoning. Both R-22 and R-30 zoning carry a minimum house sizes of 1,800 sq. ft.
Project representative Brian Rochester, of Rochester and Associates, said the property is surrounded on two sides with lots zoned R-22. Rochester said homes to be built by D.R. Horton range from the mid-$300,000 range and into the $400,000 range. The minimum home size for R-22 zoning is 1,800 sq. ft.
The subdivision would be served by a single entrance from Redwine Road and would intersect at Ramah Road, necessitating the installation of a four-way stop.
Wismer in the staff report said the property is adjacent to Lakemont subdivision, which is zoned R-22, and Quail Hollow subdivision in unincorporated Fayette County, which is zoned R-40.
City planning staff supported a favorable recommendation of the project based on a review of ordinances governing the rezoning process.
Wismer said the R-22 zoning category is considered medium-density in the zoning ordinance, which puts the the project in compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Wismer in the report said the proposal is compatible with neighboring properties and conforms to the city’s future land use map.
Pertaining to an increase in traffic, Wismer said an increase would occur whether the property is zoned R-22 with 77 homes or under its current R-30 zoning with 84 homes.
Wismer in commenting on the issues concerning stormwater runoff said the existing and natural topography presents some challenges to develop within the entire property, though it is not significant enough to be a factor for consideration of the rezoning proposal.
The Oddo family has owned the property since 1971.
