Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission members kicked off the new year Jan. 7 with positive comments about a development plan for more than 200 homes.
Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission members kicked off the new year Jan. 7 with positive comments about a development plan for more than 200 homes.
Plans were displayed during the meeting for 209 parcels in Heritage Pointe at 15136 Lake Avenue.
Three contiguous parcels south of the Walmart Superstore add up to more than 80 acres. Mostly consisting of fields and woods, they are owned by Lake Avenue Land Partners LTD.
David Zook, of Bristolville, managing member of LALP, sat with Chardon developer Joe Svete during the meeting while the developer explained the LALP plans.
The residential planned urban development will be broken up into five or six phases, Svete said.
Phase one will consist of 40 houses with a density of about 2.6 homes per acre. The structures will be similar to homes in the Woodsong development to the west, he said.
“I’m not saying we are going to build with Ryan (Homes). There may be other national builders interested,” Svete said, adding the partners hope to break ground in the spring.
“Optimistically, we will sell 30 (homes) per year,” he said, noting the incremental increase in housing should not have a significant impact on the village utilities.
The minimum lot size will be 60-feet-by-150-feet with 20 feet between houses. All roads will be public with about 15 acres of common areas. The asphalt roads will have access on Lake Avenue, Svete said.
Village Engineer Tom Cappello said he is working with the village utilities department to see if the existing water flow is sufficient to supply the proposed development.
“People are worried about (water) pressure at Woodsong. We want to make sure (Heritage Pointe) doesn’t become a hindrance,” Cappello said.
The development’s streets will all have sidewalks on both sides and he proposed the wetland areas will be good sites for walking trails.
The homes will be priced around $400,000 and should attract families to the village, Svete said.
“We need more young people. The village should do whatever it can to encourage young people,” he said. “If you don’t have young people coming in, the village dies.”
The population of Woodsong has shifted from about 80% seniors to about 50% seniors and 50% young families, Svete said.
Village solicitor Luke McConville said once Middlefield Township Trustees approve the annexation of the larger parcel from the township in February, and the Geauga County Planning Commission approves it, the larger parcel will come into the village zoned for residential development.
The two smaller parcels, already residential, include several buildings. Plans are to demolish most and renovate the house, Svete said.
Access to Lake Avenue will be through the smaller parcels and Svete agreed to widen the Heritage Pointe access road to include left and right turn lanes
An inspection by the Army Corps of Engineers was delayed by weather in December, but the developer said he’s pretty confident the project will be approved.
“I think Heritage Pointe is really going to be a positive addition to the village,” Svete said.
Commission Chair Scott Klein echoed his comment.
“It will be good for the village. The stores will love it and it will be good for the schools,” he said. “There is a desperate need for housing throughout America, the time is right.”
