Rockford Homes must correct errors on proposed River Road housing development in Newark
NEWARK — Rockford Homes does not need any rezoning to build a housing subdivision on River Road, but it will need to correct multiple errors in its preliminary plat presented last week to the Newark Planning Commission.
City Engineer Brian Morehead called the zoning errors “troubling” in his written review and recommended Rockford Homes resubmit the preliminary plat to the commission for its Willow Bend subdivision.
Rockford Homes proposes a 67-lot, single-family residential development on 30 acres at 2811 River Road, which is north of River Road, east of the Park Trails housing subdivision and west of Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods.
A previous proposal on the same property failed in March when Corridor Development Company realized it would not be approved for rezoning part of the land for multi-family housing and withdrew the request.
The land is zoned low-density residential, which allows a maximum density of three lots per acre. The Rockford Homes plat incorrectly showed medium-density residential housing. The current plan does not include multi-family housing.
“They didn’t have the right zoning district on the plat," Morehead said. "It wasn’t right. One of the big concerns out there is the density of the development and by having the wrong listed zoning district, that allows for more houses. I just thought it was a fatal error on the plat.
Development pitched for Newark: Rockford Homes presents 67-lot River Road housing plan
“The plat needs to be correct before we approve it. That was a very concerning issue. So many things are related to the zoning.”
Justin Lowe, of Rockford Homes, said the company plans to return next month to the planning commission with the correct information.
“That was just a typo," Lowe said. "It’s just a matter of getting the drawings cleaned up a little bit.”
There were at least a dozen inaccuracies, including the incorrect zoning district, street names, setback dimensions and pavement width, as well as not identifying waterways, a no-development buffer, a roundabout and turn lanes.
It is not yet known the number of bedrooms or floors in the new homes. The price range will be similar to Park Ridge, located across River Road from the possible new development, Lowe said.
In 2006, when Rockford Homes presented plans for Park Ridge to the Newark Planning Commission, it projected homes priced between $275,000 and $350,000 in the 80-acre, 142-home development.
Granville Schools Superintendent Jeff Brown said he would like to have discussions with the developer and the planning commission about the proposed development, which is in the Granville Exempted Village School District.
“Our concern has been about the density of the development from the very beginning," Brown said. "This is a different developer proposing a different site plan. Our intent is to lower the density as much as possible.
“The previous developer and this developer are looking for single-family homes, and single-family homes in the Granville School District are very attractive. They can market Granville Schools. This is a significant selling point in Licking County. Obviously, they own the property and we want to work with them to make the least amount of negative consequences.”
Brown explained to the commission that two of Granville's four schools are already at recommended capacity, so any influx of students from the development will force the district to build more schools. He also said the district does not typically have access to state matching funds like most districts, so local residents would foot the bill.
“A majority of the burden falls on taxpayers to build new buildings," Brown said. "It’s more of a challenge to make sure we have adequate facilities for the education we provide.”
Morehead said the city has had discussions with Granville about the existing Newark/Granville Community Authority, which would provide benefits to the school district as the land is developed. He said the developer should have discussions with Granville on the subject.
Two decades ago, an agreement between Granville Schools and M/I Homes for the Park Trails subdivision established annual homeowner fees to help pay the costs of adding classrooms, teachers, staff, equipment, and supplies.
The Newark-Granville Community Authority charges assessments on each new home in the city of Newark and Granville School District to help the school district pay for all the new students.
In his report to the planning commission, Morehead also stated,"There is an issue that the city is working to resolve regarding providing improved water pressure and fire protection for this development with the current water supply system."
There is no gravity sanitary sewer immediately available to the site, but a future extension is planned, Moehead said. Until the extension is made, sanitary sewer will be directed to the pumping station in Park Trails, he said.
"The developer should be aware of the agreements between the city and M/I Homes regarding the establishment of a special assessment district to help pay the oversize cost of the existing sanitary sewer in Park Trails subdivision," Morehead stated.
kmallett@newarkadvocate.com
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Twitter: @kmallett1958
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Rockford Homes must correct errors on River Road housing development
