City's housing boom in west continues

Thursday, April 19, 2007

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com

Planners review layout for 427 homes near refuge

Huntsville's housing boom is continuing in the growth corridor near Madison and east Limestone County.

The subdivision committee of the Huntsville City Planning Commission reviewed layout plans Wednesday for a proposed 1,261-lot subdivision off Beadle Lane between Zierdt Road and Wall-Triana Highway.

Thousands of home sites have been approved in the area over the last couple of years, transforming farm fields into rows of houses and roads.

The part of the proposal reviewed Wednesday calls for 427 single-family homes. The development would be on newly annexed property that adjoins Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.

Gerald Martin of Martin Surveys Co. said property owner and developer Louis Breland plans to have adjacent land annexed for another phase of the subdivision called Willows at The River Landing.

The panel forwarded the plans to the full Planning Commission without a recommendation because of concerns the first phase has only one main entrance road into the subdivision to serve hundreds of homes.

"I'm terrified of a storm or tornado taking out the one entrance and having people trapped," said committee member Ed Starnes. "It's a matter of public safety."

Committee member Crawford Howard directed the city planning staff to review whether the city should set a threshold for a second entrance. City Planner Marie Bostick said new international fire code regulations set a benchmark of 200 homes.

Other layout plans reviewed Wednesday by the subdivision subcommittee are:

California Village Subdivision phase I and phase II, 57 lots total, located north of Oakwood Avenue and west of High Mountain Road. Howard questioned whether the property falls under city slope regulations. A grandfather provision exempted the property from those regulations when they were adopted in the 1980s, planning staff told the subcommittee.

Old Cobblestone subdivision, 360 lots, north of Interstate 565 and east of Segers Road. The development would consist of 218 houses and 142 townhomes. The subcommittee recommended the project for approval by the Planning Commission.

Madison Park Apartments, 308 units, south of Old Madison Pike and west of Slaughter Road near Madison Academy. Recommended for approval.

University Place Apartments, 84 units, north of University Drive and east of Wynn Drive. The panel recommended the project for approval without a requested waiver of sidewalks along Century Drive.



City's housing boom in west continues Thursday, April 19, 2007 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com Planners review layout for 427 homes near refuge Huntsville's housing boom is continuing in the growth corridor near Madison and east Limestone County. The subdivision committee of the Huntsville City Planning Commission reviewed layout plans Wednesday for a proposed 1,261-lot subdivision off Beadle Lane between Zierdt Road and Wall-Triana Highway. Thousands of home sites have been approved in the area over the last couple of years, transforming farm fields into rows of houses and roads. The part of the proposal reviewed Wednesday calls for 427 single-family homes. The development would be on newly annexed property that adjoins Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Gerald Martin of Martin Surveys Co. said property owner and developer Louis Breland plans to have adjacent land annexed for another phase of the subdivision called Willows at The River Landing. The panel forwarded the plans to the full Planning Commission without a recommendation because of concerns the first phase has only one main entrance road into the subdivision to serve hundreds of homes. "I'm terrified of a storm or tornado taking out the one entrance and having people trapped," said committee member Ed Starnes. "It's a matter of public safety." Committee member Crawford Howard directed the city planning staff to review whether the city should set a threshold for a second entrance. City Planner Marie Bostick said new international fire code regulations set a benchmark of 200 homes. Other layout plans reviewed Wednesday by the subdivision subcommittee are: California Village Subdivision phase I and phase II, 57 lots total, located north of Oakwood Avenue and west of High Mountain Road. Howard questioned whether the property falls under city slope regulations. A grandfather provision exempted the property from those regulations when they were adopted in the 1980s, planning staff told the subcommittee. Old Cobblestone subdivision, 360 lots, north of Interstate 565 and east of Segers Road. The development would consist of 218 houses and 142 townhomes. The subcommittee recommended the project for approval by the Planning Commission. Madison Park Apartments, 308 units, south of Old Madison Pike and west of Slaughter Road near Madison Academy. Recommended for approval. University Place Apartments, 84 units, north of University Drive and east of Wynn Drive. The panel recommended the project for approval without a requested waiver of sidewalks along Century Drive. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.