Development of another portion of the Durham Lakes development in Fairburn came a step closer to reality Feb. 28 with the City Council's approval of a preliminary plat for Brookhaven Subdivision and its proposed 260 single-family lots.

The council approved the preliminary plat contingent upon the developer's compliance with the conditions stipulated by the city's planning and zoning staff.

Brookhaven Subdivision, also referred to as Unit V, is located on 84.86 acres and is divided into two phases of development. The portion of Phase One receiving the preliminary plat approval by the council is situated adjacent to the designated commercial property fronting Roosevelt Highway at Johns River Road.

"It will be a fine addition to the community," city administrator Jim Williams told council members.

Conditions that must be met by the developer include providing masonry facade to 75 percent of each dwelling unit, obtaining a written commitment to provide a minimum 20-foot wide right-of-way to link Brookhaven and Unit II, Phase 2, providing copies of the signed, recorded sanitary sewer easements prior to issuance of a land disturbance permit, maintaining a maximum separation of 500-feet between fire hydrants and providing an undisturbed or planted buffer adjacent to Johns River Road and the commercial property.

Additional requirements call for the inclusion of a landscape plan as part of the construction plan. The landscape plan must be prepared by a registered architect and will be required for all common areas including the entrance and detention ponds. All landscaping must be implemented prior to the issuing the first certificate of occupancy. A final condition states that no permit for development will be issued prior to March 1 in accordance with the city's Water Availability Moratorium.

With its original concept plan approved a few years ago, the Durham Lakes development called for a total of 872 residential lots, a commercial area and a golf course. The golf course and some of the residential property are currently under construction.