Zierdt Road area to add 1,027 homes

Subdivision in west Huntsville revives growth concerns

Thursday, October 21, 2004

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com

It's become an all-too familiar scene in city planning meetings:

Plans are reviewed for yet another sprawling subdivision for west Huntsville. And talk resurfaces about traffic, school overcrowding and other growth concerns.

Wednesday was no different as a city planning subcommittee reviewed plans for a 1,027-home development south of Martin Road and west of Zierdt Road near Williams School.

The proposed "Lake Forest'' subdivision would be a mixture of patio homes, townhouses and single-family dwellings.

Developer Louis Breland said prices will probably range from the upper $300,000s to around $700,000 for larger homes; $240,000 to $325,000 for the smaller ones. Construction startup hinges on approval by the full planning commission, possibly within a month or two.

Breland said Lake Forest will be "an upscale, private, gated community,'' complete with walking trails, a 31-acre lake, basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields and an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse. "It will be a mixture that should attract retirees, executives and families,'' he said.

At least 1,400 home sites have been approved in the Zierdt Road area since 2001. Another 1,600, including Lake Forest, are in the early phases of planning, records show.

Across I-565 near the new Village of Providence planned community, approximately 4,000 home sites have been approved since 2001.

In southeast Huntsville, several thousand homes are on the drawing boards, including the upscale McMullen Cove project developed by Enfinger Development, owned by state Sen. Jeff Enfinger, D-Huntsville.

Huntsville City School board member Jennie Robinson, an ex-officio member on the city planning commission, said school officials have been scrambling to keep ahead of the growth.

Williams School, a K-8 campus off Zierdt Road, was built with the capability to expand, she said.

"We're trying to keep ahead of the curve," she told planners Wednesday. "Or at least keep up with it.''

Both the elementary and middle school portions of Williams will be over capacity in 2006, she said. Williams Elementary has a capacity of 420, while the middle school was designed for 316.

The new Providence K-8 school is expected to be at capacity when it opens next fall. It's designed for 800 students, but can also be expanded.

Breland predicts Lake Forest will take five to 10 years to complete.

Studies show the Zierdt Road area ripe for development. "It's just a very convenient location," between Redstone Arsenal, Cummings Research Park and Huntsville International Airport, Breland said.

City plans calling for a five-laning of Zierdt should help traffic flow, he said. Five-laning Zierdt is in the city's 10-year plan, with $350,000 budgeted for initial work in 2006 and $3.1 million for 2009.

City Council members and school officials planned a joint breakfast meeting today to discuss city growth patterns and other school-related issues. Discussions will also likely center on the fast-growing Hampton Cove area and of school needs in older sections of Huntsville.




Zierdt Road area to add 1,027 homes Subdivision in west Huntsville revives growth concerns Thursday, October 21, 2004 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com It's become an all-too familiar scene in city planning meetings: Plans are reviewed for yet another sprawling subdivision for west Huntsville. And talk resurfaces about traffic, school overcrowding and other growth concerns. Wednesday was no different as a city planning subcommittee reviewed plans for a 1,027-home development south of Martin Road and west of Zierdt Road near Williams School. The proposed "Lake Forest'' subdivision would be a mixture of patio homes, townhouses and single-family dwellings. Developer Louis Breland said prices will probably range from the upper $300,000s to around $700,000 for larger homes; $240,000 to $325,000 for the smaller ones. Construction startup hinges on approval by the full planning commission, possibly within a month or two. Breland said Lake Forest will be "an upscale, private, gated community,'' complete with walking trails, a 31-acre lake, basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields and an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse. "It will be a mixture that should attract retirees, executives and families,'' he said. At least 1,400 home sites have been approved in the Zierdt Road area since 2001. Another 1,600, including Lake Forest, are in the early phases of planning, records show. Across I-565 near the new Village of Providence planned community, approximately 4,000 home sites have been approved since 2001. In southeast Huntsville, several thousand homes are on the drawing boards, including the upscale McMullen Cove project developed by Enfinger Development, owned by state Sen. Jeff Enfinger, D-Huntsville. Huntsville City School board member Jennie Robinson, an ex-officio member on the city planning commission, said school officials have been scrambling to keep ahead of the growth. Williams School, a K-8 campus off Zierdt Road, was built with the capability to expand, she said. "We're trying to keep ahead of the curve," she told planners Wednesday. "Or at least keep up with it.'' Both the elementary and middle school portions of Williams will be over capacity in 2006, she said. Williams Elementary has a capacity of 420, while the middle school was designed for 316. The new Providence K-8 school is expected to be at capacity when it opens next fall. It's designed for 800 students, but can also be expanded. Breland predicts Lake Forest will take five to 10 years to complete. Studies show the Zierdt Road area ripe for development. "It's just a very convenient location," between Redstone Arsenal, Cummings Research Park and Huntsville International Airport, Breland said. City plans calling for a five-laning of Zierdt should help traffic flow, he said. Five-laning Zierdt is in the city's 10-year plan, with $350,000 budgeted for initial work in 2006 and $3.1 million for 2009. City Council members and school officials planned a joint breakfast meeting today to discuss city growth patterns and other school-related issues. Discussions will also likely center on the fast-growing Hampton Cove area and of school needs in older sections of Huntsville. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.