We're building - let's hope they come

Planning panel OKs several large developments

Thursday, June 22, 2006

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com

Huntsville's BRAC-fueled housing boom appears poised for another burst of growth.

A Huntsville planning subcommittee gave the go-ahead Wednesday for several large residential developments.

City planners have approved nearly 3,000 new home sites in the last year leading to Wednesday's meeting. Wednesday, the panel gave layout approval for 407 new single family home sites and preliminary approval for 352. A 480-unit apartment complex also won the subcommittee's recommendation for approval.

Layout is just the general concept of a planned development. Preliminary approvals allow developers to start construction on the roads and other services for the subdivision.

Planners say the home-building pace seems to have accelerated since Redstone Arsenal was tapped last year to get 4,700 new defense jobs under Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations. Those BRAC positions could bring an equal number of support jobs.

From June 2005 to the end of May, city planners have given preliminary approval for 2,700 single family home sites and final approval for 1,333 single family homes and 546 apartments. Final approval paves the way for building permits for the individual homes.

Ed Starnes, chairman of the subdivision subcommittee, attributed the housing boom to developer expectations of a swelling population.

"If they don't come, we'll have a badly overbuilt market," he said.

Wednesday's approval recommendations send the requests to the Planning Commission, which will meet Tuesday.

The proposed developments include a 480-unit apartment complex (named Ashford Crossing) off Research Park Boulevard just north of Plummer Road on newly annexed property; a 211-lot subdivision on adjacent property just east of Indian Creek Road; a 300-lot subdivision (Lake Forest) west of Zierdt Road and south of Martin Road near the arsenal gate; a 135-lot subdivision north of U.S. 72 West and east of Nance Road called Iredell subdivision; and a 50-lot development on Green Mountain called The Preserve at Clayton Pond.



We're building - let's hope they come Planning panel OKs several large developments Thursday, June 22, 2006 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com Huntsville's BRAC-fueled housing boom appears poised for another burst of growth. A Huntsville planning subcommittee gave the go-ahead Wednesday for several large residential developments. City planners have approved nearly 3,000 new home sites in the last year leading to Wednesday's meeting. Wednesday, the panel gave layout approval for 407 new single family home sites and preliminary approval for 352. A 480-unit apartment complex also won the subcommittee's recommendation for approval. Layout is just the general concept of a planned development. Preliminary approvals allow developers to start construction on the roads and other services for the subdivision. Planners say the home-building pace seems to have accelerated since Redstone Arsenal was tapped last year to get 4,700 new defense jobs under Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations. Those BRAC positions could bring an equal number of support jobs. From June 2005 to the end of May, city planners have given preliminary approval for 2,700 single family home sites and final approval for 1,333 single family homes and 546 apartments. Final approval paves the way for building permits for the individual homes. Ed Starnes, chairman of the subdivision subcommittee, attributed the housing boom to developer expectations of a swelling population. "If they don't come, we'll have a badly overbuilt market," he said. Wednesday's approval recommendations send the requests to the Planning Commission, which will meet Tuesday. The proposed developments include a 480-unit apartment complex (named Ashford Crossing) off Research Park Boulevard just north of Plummer Road on newly annexed property; a 211-lot subdivision on adjacent property just east of Indian Creek Road; a 300-lot subdivision (Lake Forest) west of Zierdt Road and south of Martin Road near the arsenal gate; a 135-lot subdivision north of U.S. 72 West and east of Nance Road called Iredell subdivision; and a 50-lot development on Green Mountain called The Preserve at Clayton Pond. © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.