At the Collegedale commission meeting Monday night, Commissioner Ethan White questioned a zoning change for the second time. At the commission meeting on April 6, he requested that the project planned for 9700 Bill Reed Road be sent back to the planning commission before the second and final reading. At that time, he was concerned that cars would be backing out of driveways onto a busy street. At the meeting Monday, his reservations were because the planned homes would cost less than some houses in surrounding subdivisions.
Developer Jon Devanzo is planning to build eight or nine single-story houses ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet, using high-quality materials such as stone on the exteriors, hardwood floors and granite counters. Prices will be around $200,000 and the homes would be targeted to people that want to down-size, said the developer. A zoning change is needed from Multi-Family Residential to High Density Single-Family Residential which would reduce the total number of cars leaving the development. To alleviate the worry that cars would be backing out onto a busy street, the plan also calls for “turn-outs” that cars can back into and leave the driveways going forward.
Planning Commission Chairman Jimmy Eller told the commissioners that the plans fully met Collegedale’s current regulations so the appropriate decision was made to approve the development and recommend the zoning change at the original review. The second review by the planners resulted in the same unanimous decision.
Mayor Katie Lamb told Mr. White that there is enough room in the city for that price home, and Commissioner Debbie Baker said the plans show good quality and look like they will fit into the other houses around them without taking values down. Commissioner White said that controls need to be in place to make sure that in the future, the planning commission does not approve plans only because a development meets the regulations. The second and final vote Monday night was unanimous to approve the zoning change.
Director of Public Works Eric Sines received approval of the best bid for concrete work at Imagination Station, the playground behind city hall. There will be a concrete pad under the playground equipment, concrete curbs and drainage systems. The low bid of $49,400 came from Yerby Concrete. The original target date for opening the new facility was May 15. Due to large amounts of rain, that date has been changed to June 15 depending on the weather. Mayor Lamb suggested posting a sign to show residents what the finished playground will look like.
The commissioners voted to enter into a service agreement with an engineering firm to provide engineering services for the Collegedale Airport for the next five years. City Attorney Sam Elliott said this agreement defines the terms of any work that will be done.
Also approved was the formality of dedicating the sewer system from the Integra Preserve apartments into the Collegedale system.
In his financial report, City Manager Ted Rogers said that revenue for the month of March came in as anticipated. At 75 percent through the year, 99 percent of the budgeted revenue has been received and only 64 percent of budgeted expenditures have been made. He said he anticipates no problems for the remainder of the year.