RSS
|
|
The planning board tabled action on a conditional use permit for Thomas Barrett and Mike Davis for Rivers Edge, a development proposed in an area beginning at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and running down Old Farm Road to Rollingwood Wood.
The Canal Commission is not against the proposal, but does have concerns about maintaining the integrity and aesthetics of the canal trail.
The commission has voted to grant Barrett and Davis what it calls an appropriate easement to cross the canal property for storm drainage and sewage connection along with a single pedestrian access bridge to the canal.
That easement is granted on the following conditions:
Prior to any work to cross the canal property, the commission is given a 50-foot strip of land adjacent to the canal property on the south side of the canal spanning the entire length of the property.
Give the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail a parcel of land between the canal and the Roanoke River.
Guarantee the commission the sole right for final approval of all plans and/or grants of rights-of-way.
Commission Co-Chair Mike Greene told the planning board during Thursday's public hearing that without those conditions, no access would be given.
The developers have come up with a counter-proposal stating they would agree to a 50-foot strip adjacent to the commission property on Old Farm Road to be left natural and a nature easement placed on the recorded final subdivision plat.
The developers also agree to donate $25,000 over the next two years to the commission for upgrades to the trail. The commission would also be allowed to keep using the current path across the developers' property for trail maintenance.
The developers, in turn, want the commission to grant them a 30-foot easement across its property to place sanitary sewer and storm water lines. The lines would be placed underground and all commission property would be returned to its original grade and landscaped according to the commission's specifications.
The developers also want the commission to grant them a 10-foot easement for the construction of an access walkway to the trail and river across the commission's property. This walkway would be constructed per specifications stated by the commission.
Commission Co-Chair Jim Frazier said the matter is not irreconcilable as has been rumored. “We are still reviewing their recommendations. Our concern is we want them to protect that green way. We want it done responsibly.”
Barrett told the planning board the stormwater and sewer projects could be done without the easement, although it would require them to come up with other methods to collect storm water and sewage.
“We've invested a large sum of money. We're not cutting back on anything,” Barrett said. “We're looking to do everything right and do something people can ride by 20 years from now and say ‘That's a nice subdivision.'”
Barrett said the subdivision will contain single family houses ranging in size from 1,800 to 2,500 sq. ft. and, with the price of lots included, cost anywhere between $250,000 to $500,000.
Planning board member Ellen Heaton made the motion to table the matter until the board's Feb. 15 meeting. “As a Realtor, I'm real excited about this subdivision,” she said. “I think there's a lot of issues. I think if we table it we'll be able to get more input.”
The Canal Commission will consider the developers' proposal at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Davis, when asked about the decision to table the matter, said, “With all the information presented to the city, what is required to get a conditional use permit? In order to present more information about storm water we would have to bring the plans from the engineers that are being designed and worked on now.”
Davis said he hopes the commission will consider their offer because both parties have the same goals.
“We can reach the same goals with a different approach. Our offer is what is best for the protection of the Canal Trail,” he said. “With the 50-foot buffer, it only makes common sense that if we have to retain water without an easement that no one will be happy. Someone besides the developers will have look in the mirror and ask what happened.”
Comments