Members of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission voted to recommended approval on a rezoning request for a proposed Flemington subdivision last week.
The request drew concerns from neighbors when it went before commissioners at the LCPC’s Aug. 16 meeting. Some residents on Old Savannah Road in Flemington are opposed to the plans.
Property owner Bill Nutting of Provident Land Holdings requested the rezoning of 27 acres from R-1, single-family residential, to a planned unit development, or PUD, for a subdivision on either side of Old Savannah Road.
If approved as planned the subdivision will have 46 lots, 7.85 acres of open space and a walking trail around the detention pond.
In 2009, the property was rezoned from R-1 to PUD but nothing was done to the property, causing it revert back to R-1.
Marcus Sack of P.C. Simonton and Associates said the density of the two plans were equal. Under R-1, the subdivision will be filled with lots and will have more roads, with PUD there will be 5 acres of preserved acreage and 3 acres of common area, he said.
“Really the purpose of PUD, you get these clusters, then some open space and preserve some areas,” Sack said.
The property is close to Fort Stewart, which adds conditions including a sign and fence to discourage pedestrians crossing into the installation, a tree buffer zone of at least 50 feet, reduced noise level by 25 decibels and potential buyers must be informed that the property is within 3,000 feet of the base.
There were two meetings with the city of Flemington, Nutting said, where he got input from neighbors. Nutting felt PUD was the best option because of the preserved area, detention pond, walking trail and open area for neighbors to enjoy.
“If we went in there and made the whole thing lots then it takes away from that gathering spot. It takes away from the natural area,” Nutting said. “The R-1 pushes lots closer to the neighbors that we’re trying to protect, it also puts street lights, it puts noise, it’s putting more clearing, more dirt that has to be filled closer to the neighbors. “
Nutting said the homes will sell for $250,000.
Homeowner Keith Moran said all the neighbors are in favor of R-1.
“The majority of the homeowners live on 2 acre plots and we’re used to living in a very country atmosphere. This will affect our quality of life and value of our homes,” Moran said. “The proposal they have made is brick front and the rest of the two-storied houses siding. When these houses are built they look wonderful. But in three years. when that oak tree mold starts to mold that siding, it starts to work, it depreciates the values of those homes rapidly.”
Part of the subdivision will have shared driveways onto Old Savannah Road. Moran said that this will increase traffic in an area that already has high volumes of traffic because of the gate for Fort Stewart.
Moran asked that the property remain R-1 and for green space to be added into the plan. He was also concerned about drainage and noise levels.
“There probably will be a development but the citizens are looking for an R-1. We think it maintains property values better,” Moran said.