While approving a plan to develop a new phase of an existing subdivision, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners encouraged existing residents to keep an eye on the new construction and let county officials know if the problems they raised during discussion on the petition resurfaced.
The plan presented during a public hearing at the board’s Sept. 24 regular meeting was a request to rezone 29.491 acres fronting on Hwy. 54 and Dockstreet Alley from A-R to R-40 to develop a single-family residential subdivision. If approved, it would add 24 lots to the existing Longboat subdivision.
The only member of the public to speak in favor of the request was Vee Jokijphor, actually the agent for the applicant but also a resident of the existing subdivision. She said she was the last person to buy in that community and the proposed development would increase equity for her as well as revenue for the homeowners association.
Eddie Hill, the current HOA president, concurred with the latter statement but raised concerns about having only one entrance and exit to the subdivision for 46 homes. He said he had recently learned that an existing home and a driveway on Hwy. 54 were purchased as part of the tract and wondered why that could not be utilized as a second entrance for the subdivision. Hill also was concerned that all new construction trucks for the homes would have to come in through the existing entrance.
Brian Lambert, who identified himself as the head of the HOA’s architectural committee and one of the first homeowners in the subdivision, was disturbed by some aspects of the initial construction process. Specifically, he pointed out the way things were left by the previous builders and developers, such as concrete washout not being cleaned up, debris left on private property and curbs being broken up.
“Our residents took a lot of time cleaning up that time and don’t want to do that again,” he said.
Lambert said homeowners have asked for some guarantees about cleanup but have been unable to get answers, and he is opposed to the new development until they get those assurances.
Jokijphor said the developer and builder met with homeowners a week earlier and are trying to work things out so all will be satisfied. She has nothing in writing yet but hopes it will be soon.
Commissioner Steve Brown said the concrete washout and busted curbs should never be allowed and the county should be called immediately when something like that is seen.
“You shouldn’t be spending your HOA money to fix that problem,” said Brown. “That’s on the developer. If it’s not done right, we will cash that bond in and spend that money to do it ourselves.”
Brown encouraged the homeowners to get together with county staff about these issues whenever it is necessary. He made a motion to approve the rezoning with an additional request that a temporary easement be used directly off Hwy. 54 for heavy construction traffic as needed. That motion was approved 5-0.
A separate public hearing was required for the request to add the 24 lots to the final plat. That request was also approved unanimously.
