A proposed rezoning for the largest undeveloped tract of land in Fayetteville drew little criticism during a City Council meeting last week because neighbors hashed out most of their concerns with representatives of the developer beforehand.
Community rezoning meetings are “typically a little more contentious, but in this case, it was very productive,” said David Spearman, a representative of developer DR Horton.
The Texas-based Horton company is reported to be the largest residential developer in the United States and is the company that earlier this year purchased Crown Communities, the largest residential builder in the Atlanta area, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
“I appreciate it,” Spearman said of the meetings with residents of Quail Hollow and Lakemont subdivisions, which border the planned Horton subdivision. “They asked good questions, they were professional. We listened to each other. It was very refreshing.”
The 60-acre tract up for a possible rezoning is on Redwine Road near its intersection with Ramah Road and is owned by the Oddo family, which includes Fayetteville Councilman Paul Oddo and Fayette County Commissioner Chuck Oddo.
Councilman Oddo left the council meeting during discussion on the property and will not vote on the final decision, which is expected after the second public hearing on Oct. 16.
The property is already zoned for a subdivision, but Horton has requested a zoning change that will allow some smaller lots even though the submitted plan calls for fewer houses than would be allowed under the current zoning.
Current zoning would allow 84 homes on lots of about three-fourths an acre. While the change in zoning would allow lots of about one-half an acre, the plan only calls for 77 houses in the subdivision. The homes will range from the mid-$300,000 into the $400,000 range. The minimum home size allowed would be 1,800 square feet.
Horton “likes to create community in their developments,” said project representative Brian Rochester of Rochester and Associates. “People are looking for places they can gather, where children can play. With little less larger lots, with flexibility, we can create a sense of community and have places to gather, and become truly a neighborhood, not just a street with houses on it.”
Chris Madura, president of the neighboring Lakemont Homeowners Association, said his group has three remaining concerns – stormwater runoff from the planned development into Lakemont because of the topography of the site, traffic at the entrance of the proposed subdivision, and existing sewer capacity.
Horton has agreed to retention ponds to catch the stormwater before it can flow into the neighboring subdivisions, agreed to donate land to the city in hopes of creating a roundabout for traffic flow at the intersection of Redwine, the subdivision entrance and Ramah.
While officials said Fayetteville has ample sewer system capacity for any development, Madura’s concern about capacity prompted an investigation into whether some type of sewage overflow may occur in that area during heavy rains.
“When water rises (in a creek running through the property), so does the smell,” Madura said, adding that residents also can see evidence of an overflow during those times.
A portion of the Lakemont subdivision is on the city sewer system because it is located in the city limits. Another portion is not within the city limits and houses there must have septic tanks, which could be the source of overflows.
Either way, Clifton has instructed staff members to investigate.
Residents of both Lakemont and Quail Hollow also oppose any roadway that would connect their subdivisions to the new one.
