Riverwest developers still can’t please Marion P&Z

Riverwest developers still can’t please Marion P&Z

Revised plans for subdivision rejected again by commissioners

By Mark Randall

news@theeveningtimes.com

For the second time, Marion Planning and Zoning Commission has shot down a proposed 43 lot subdivision in Riverwest that has created controversy among residents due to its smaller lot sizes.

City Planner Ed Cain said the developer came back with essentially the same proposal as before but with an assurance to adopt some of the provisions in the Riverwest Home Owners Association bill of assurance to ensure any new homes would fit in with the existing subdivision.

“It was basically the same plat,” Cain said. “There was some tweaking on a couple of the lots. They had the same minimum house size, and the lots are still not as large as the ones in Riverwest but still meet our minimum lot size. Apparently some common ground was reached with the homeowners association and they did speak of a bill of assurance this time.

But again, they rejected it.” Mike Ford of Coldwell Banker Heritage Homes, who represents property owner Bob Cannon, appeared before P& Z at its December meeting and again asked the board to approve the final plat for “The Reserve” subdivision. The proposed subdivsion is for 43 lots on about 25 acres. The new subdivsion though, has stirred up residents of Riverwest who are angry because the lots are about 1,700 square feet and are smaller than the rest of Riverwest.

P& Z originally approved the final plat back in August, but voted 4-2 against recommending the city grant final approval. And before that, P& Z had previously rejected a rezoning proposal for a gated community on a portion of the land for residents 55 years and older.

Residents have been vocal with their concerns that the smaller lots and home sizes would negatively affect property values.

“There was still some questions about the impact it would have on Riverwest,” Cain said.

Cain said the developers had met with some of the members of the home owners association to answer their questions, but did not have a consensus of the association for the subdivision proposal. “There was some common ground reached and they adopted some — but not all — of the provisions of Riverwest,” Cain said. “But that was not the consensus as a whole. So it went down again.”

The vote was 3-2 against with one abstention.

Cain said the fact that the developers didn’t have anything in writing as far as the bill of assurance guarantees likely played a factor in it being rejected a second time.

“They said they were proposing them,” Cain said.

“But I think some on the planning commission felt they should put something in writing.”

Developers will have to go back to the drawing board afer Marion Planning & Zoning once again rejected their plans for the Riverwest subdivision.

Photo by Ralph Hardin