An expansion of the Village of Providence is proceeding despite concerns about the extension of a sewer line to serve the subdivisions and the number of access points in case of an emergency.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the Huntsville Planning Commission approved the re-layout of 104 lots, gave preliminary approval for 67 lots for phase 14 of the Village of Providence, and gave preliminary approval for 37 lots for phase 15 north of U.S. 72 and west of Providence Main Street
Old Monrovia Road resident Phil Williams and Jim Chamberlain, who represented Grace United Methodist Church, which adjoins the property, asked the commission to delay approval until questions about the installation of a sewer line and eminent domain were resolved.
Resident Mark Quinn also voiced concerns over the lack of access points for the subdivisions that would allow residents to evacuate should “an Act of God” occur.
Williams and Chamberlain voiced concerns about the lack of information about the eminent domain process that would allow for the installation of the sewer line.
“I don’t know the schedule,” Williams said. “I don’t know what kind of easement is being proposed. It’s difficult for all of us to know where to turn to a source to get this kind of information on schedule and what we should expect.”
“We reached out to the city about the proposed easement, but I would have to say communications have been very slow,” Chamberlain said.
He said an appraiser walked the proposed easement on church property with a church member, and that city Water Pollution Control Director Shane Cook also walked the property.
But Chamberlain said questions submitted by the church about the easement in July have not been answered.
Both Williams and Chamberlain would prefer a different location for the sewer line.
“We do have issues with that design,” Chamberlain said. “We want to work with the city. We believe the easement would be better placed on the other side of the creek. Right now, it cuts deeply into our property. And we are unaware of the next steps and time frame of this process.”
Nathan Weldon, representing engineer Goodwyn Mills Cawood, said he could not answer questions about the eminent domain process, but said the reason the proposed sewer line runs on the east side of Indian Creek “is because that’s where the existing sanitary tie in is.”
“We’ve just connected to that existing main sanitary that is already there and extending that up the property on that side of the creek,” he said.
City Manager of Planning Services Thomas Nunez and Planning Commission member Kelly Schrimsher promised to connect Williams and Chamberlain with people with the city who could answer their questions about the eminent domain process.
Nunez said the action by the commission paved the way for construction to begin on the proposed developments, but said final platting approval could not be given until the sewer line is installed.
He also said the proposed access points for the subdivisions met city guidelines. Nunez said one of the access points was one-way, but said emergency personnel would be able to access the road in both directions in an emergency. He also said the city was working with a private property owner to develop a third access point on Jeff Road, which runs along the proposed development.
The Village of Providence phases are being developed by MREC Placemakers VOP.
The commission also gave final approval for 61 lots for phase 12 of the development. It is being developed by Ford VOP, LLC.
Other subdivisions
The commission approved the preliminary layout of 128 lots for phase nine of Pebble Creek at River Landing west of Zierdt Road and north of Beadle Lane. It is being developed by DR Horton, with Mullins, LLC, as the engineer.
Commissioners gave final approval for 85 lots for the Fields at Hays Farm subdivision north of Hobbs Road and west of South Memorial Parkway. It is being developed by Blue Hole Preserve, LLC. Smith Engineering is also involved with the project.
Developers of the Pavilion subdivision won preliminary approval from the commission for 69 lots for phase four of their properties south of Mountain Gap Road and west of Bailey Cove Road. The single-family homes and townhomes are being developed by Hyde Homes, with Trice PC / JW Kennedy Land Survey serving as the engineer.
The 61-lot phase three of the Tunlaw Ridge subdivision east of Sanderson Road and south of Sarabella Lane also won preliminary approval. Sanderson Road, LLC, is the developer and Morrell Engineering is the engineer.
The commission also approved the layout of 60 lots for the Sequoyah subdivision west of Old Big Cove Road and north of Knotty Walls Road. It is being developed by Poiema Developing, LLC. Stratanova Engineering is also involved in the development.
The proposed 305-lot phase two of Promenade at River Landing west of Zierdt Road and north of Beadle Lane was withdrawn from the agenda. A public hearing will be held at a later date.
The proposed 177-lot Hitching Post Farm subdivision north of Wall Street and west of Rabbit Lane was also withdrawn, with a public hearing to held later.
That was also the case with the 144-lot phase two of Crystal Creek at Mountain north of Cherry Tree Road and west of McMullen Lane.
Apartments
The commission gave layout and preliminary approval for nearly 400 units for Summer Lynn Apartments south of U.S. 72 West and West of Holladay Boulevard. ARC MSL JV LLC is the developer. Johnson & Associates is the engineer.
Commissioners also granted preliminary approval of 360 units at Pines at Holladay Apartments. It is also south of U.S. 72 and is east of Holladay Boulevard. Steadfast Development Holdings LLC is the developer. Schoel Engineering is the engineer.
The commission approved the layout of 300 units for phase one of Highline at Vaughn apartments and 190 units for phase two south of McCrary Road and east of Wall Triana Highway. Highline Properties is the developer, with Schoel Engineering also involved with the project.
In all, the commission approved or granted preliminary approval to six apartment communities with more than 150 units at the meeting.
Scott Turner reports from Huntsville for the Lede.
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