The Clinton Planning Commission has opened the door to 3 new subdivisions, including one opposed by people who live in Merrie Oaks, outside the city limits, and their neighbors.
The commission makes annexation and zoning recommendations to the Clinton City Council, which considers appropriate ordinances. The commission met Tuesday evening to consider the 3 annexation / zoning requests. They include:
-- Residential 3 zoning on recently annexed property west of the city near Airport Road, this zoning would allow apartments and townhouses - request approved.
-- Planned Unit Development, changed from Residential 3, on 46 acres at 801 East Main Street that is proposed for a planned unit development which could allow single family homes and townhouses, this is known as Clinton Commons - the change allows developers to move ahead with a detailed plan of what the community would look like - and submit that later to the Commission, and ultimately to the City Council.
This area is adjacent on the back side to the Vance Drive subdivision under construction by DR Horton homebuilders (next to Eastside Elementary School).
-- Annexation and R3 zoning of 67 acres on Hwy 56 on the "other side" of Ingles.
The commision expressed that R3 is too dense for this land and is not in keeping with nearby development, or Merrie Oaks, Sunset Drive, and other homes/lots. Access points to the highway, fire hydrants, and turnaround spaces in the proposed subdivision also are concerns. The Commission recommended R1 zoning, meaning larger lot sizes (from the minimum citywide of 5,000 sq ft to 7,500 sq ft). The developers, Crown Land Development, are proposing a density equivalent to 3.6 houses per 1 acre.
Annexation was approved contingent on R1 zoning.
The developers want the annexation here to obtain city sewer service, instead of septic tanks.
The 7 people who spoke against, generally, do not live in the city but said they expect the city to uphold standards equivalent to the lot sizes they have now. A consistent theme from the developers who addressed the commission was that "today's homebuyers" don't want to have to maintain a 5,000 sq ft lot.
Each person addressing the commission at the start of what was called a public hearing was given 2 minutes to make their case. They cite congestion, lack of schools' capacity and teachers to handle the influx of families, and loss of a community feel. This new subdivision would be basically across the road from Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Some said they don't mind growth, but it needs to be a certain kind of growth.
Crown developers are going to look at what R1 zoning will do to their subdivision plan, and will get back to the city. If the development is built (based on R3 zoning) houses would be 2,000 - 2,800 sq ft 3 - 4 bedrooms, 2 stories, at a cost of $300,000 - $400,000 --- 15% - 20% of the proposed subdivision would meet the R1 zoning requirement of 7,500 sq ft lots, according to a rough estimate provided to the Planning Commission.
Lamar homebuilders is envisioned as the builder for this site.
