Developer Larry
Gough is proposing to change plans for his Mineral Springs Villas housing
development for a second time since it was platted in 2006.
But the reception
from Porter Plan Commission members Wednesday was less than enthusiastic.
“You're going to
have to do a lot of convincing,” member Ken Timm told Gough attorney William
Ferngren.
Town department
heads were asked to meet as a Technical Advisory Committee to review the
request and advise the commission before its Sept. 17 meeting.
Commission member
Brenda Brueckheimer, town Public Works superintendent, voted no on the 6-1
motion to schedule the petition for a public hearing that night. She said
there's too much previous documentation and history to review before then.
Town planner Jim
Mandon said even if a public hearing is conducted, the commission doesn't
have to reach a decision Sept. 17. The commission would make a
recommendation to the Town Council, which has final say over what's in the
planned unit development ordinance.
Timm said when
Gough changed his PUD a first time in 2010 the commission went through the
amendments with a fine tooth comb and it’s not their fault if only one of
the 18 lots at the northeast corner of Beam Street and Mineral Springs Road
has been built upon.
Judy McDaniel, who
resides in one side of the paired-patio home there, said some promises Gough
made haven't been fulfilled and she questioned why the property owners
association isn't doing anything, especially plowing the private PUD road in
winter.
Brueckheimer said
the developer wanted a self-contained concept with the POA handling
maintenance responsibilities. Commission member Jim Eriksson said he has a
problem with the town taking responsibility for more roads, something
Brueckheimer agreed needs to be addressed.
Building
commissioner Michael Barry said he can find no as-built plans for the Villas
road and would require that, along with core samples being taken, before any
final decision is made.
Ferngren said other
changes Gough wants to make for the 3.65 acres are adding more single-family
homes, adding two-story homes in the current ranch or 1 1/2 -story
development, and last night he made a new request to allow buyers to combine
two lots for one home.
Barry said he's had
several calls about the project that was intended to be a cohesive planned
community. If the changes are approved, he noted, there could be a mix of
big houses, little houses and paired-patio homes.
Mandon said he is
seeing a trend from multi-unit to single family and it can work if done
well.
Commission
president John Kremke said there needs to be cohesiveness. McDaniel said the
Villas could end up looking silly, especially with an occasional two-story
home, if some order isn't maintained.