Developer Jay Bell displays layout of new single-family home project in Red Bank
The approval of a new neighborhood of single-family homes in Red Bank was given on first reading Tuesday night at the Red Bank Commission meeting. The development is proposed by Jay Bell to be built on 16 acres that is located behind Ashmore Avenue.
To gain access to his property, Mr. Bell requested that property at 1918 and 1924 Ashmore Ave.
be rezoned from R-1 single family residential zone to R-3 residential zone. These two lots on Ashmore will be the location of the entrance road into the new development that has an R-3 zoning classification.
The neighborhood association came to commission meetings in mass last year opposing a proposed development of apartments on the same property. At that time Mr. Bell was selling the land to the developer of the apartment complex. Mr. Bell said the new plan was made to address a lot of concerns that were expressed last year. This time around he has met with residents individually and at neighborhood meetings, and has been involved with the planning commission.
Becky Browder, spokesperson for the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association, said there are still concerns but that the neighbors feel this is a much better project than apartments. The development will be for 66-68 single-family patio homes ranging in size from 1,750 to 2,100 square feet. A request was formally made that the commission look at these issues before approving the planned unit development (PUD).
The association asked if the PUD is not approved or construction does not begin within two years, that the zoning revert back to R-1. There should also be a stipulation that none of the three parcels proposed for the PUD can be used for anything other than single family homes—no multi-family units like duplexes or apartments. They also asked that the PUD not be expanded to include additional property. Landscaping for screening at the entrance from Ashmore should be done in consultation with the adjoining neighbors and the entrance road needs to be approximately 18-20 feet of pavement width, in keeping with the neighborhood streets.
The neighborhood association also asked for the city to do a traffic study to determine the impact of increased traffic generated by the PUD on the roads that are already experiencing problems with speeding by people using the neighborhood as a cut-through. Concern centers on how the larger traffic load will access Dayton Boulevard, and how the existing roads can handle it.
James Webster, a resident of Ashmore Avenue, said, despite the posted speed limit ranging from 25-30 mph, cars routinely travel 60-70 mph. He suggested adding a speed bump to slow down traffic. Another neighbor on the street, Jon Baker, said drivers of semi-trucks often are misled by their GPS and end up on the street that cannot accommodate them.
With these problems added to the many walkers, bikers and normal neighborhood traffic, Ms. Browder said the city’s help is needed. She added that it would also help the sales of Mr. Bell’s homes.
The unanimous approval was given by the commissioners upon recommendation of the planning commission with conditions relating to the restriction of use to only single-family, detached residential homes and the two-year requirement for construction.
In other business, the commissioners voted to adopt updated and revised 2016 National Flood Insurance Program rate maps that apply to Red Bank. This is required to remain in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. Mayor John Roberts said the new maps are unchanged from the previous ones. No houses were added or removed from the designated flood plain.
Authorization was also given to the city manager to enter into a contract with Total Resource, Inc. for temporary labor to assist the public works department with the annual leaf pick-up and removal.
Commissioner Ed LeCompte announced that the Red Bank Christmas Festival is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. The parade will begin at Red Bank Park.
Prior to the commission meeting the Red Bank Beer Board heard a violation against Amigo Mexican restaurant, 1906 Dayton Blvd. The Hamilton County Sheriff Department conducted a compliance check on Oct. 29, when two 18-year-olds were served beer at the restaurant without being asked for an ID.
The owner of the restaurant, that has been in business since 2002, said that training is given to all new employees, aprons have the printed message that IDs are checked and that he does self compliance checks using friends as buyers. He had no explanation why the server failed to check for age. She was fired on the spot, he said. So was a server who miscalculated an age at the same restaurant in March and served an underage buyer.
The board was concerned there have been two violations of serving a minor within a year, but felt the owner “is making every effort” to comply with the law. The motion was unanimously approved to give the owner of the business the option of either a three-day suspension of the beer license or to pay a civil penalty of $150.