Fayetteville Planning Commission Reviews Double Springs Road Rezoning

— Planning commissioners aren’t sold yet on new zoning that would allow as many as 137 houses to be built on the far west side of town.

The commission on Monday unanimously tabled a request to rezone 34.4 acres at Double Springs and Sellers roads where a residential subdivision has been planned for years.

Farmington officials approved plans for a 28-lot subdivision called Dunnerstock before the land was annexed by Fayetteville in 2006. Curbs, gutters, water lines and storm drains were installed, but the development was never built.

According to Washington County property records, a company registered to Buddy Peoples of Fayetteville bought the land in 2004. Rogers-based Pinnacle Bank acquired the property in 2008.

The land is zoned two units per acre. That means as many as 68 houses could be built.

Blew & Associates, a Fayetteville land surveying firm, has asked to rezone the land to four units per acre.

While the new zoning would allow up to 137 houses, Buckley Blew, the owner of Blew & Associates, said only 79 houses are planned.

Blew said more houses than originally planned are needed to pay for an expensive sewer connection in the area.

He said, with less density, “We can’t hit the amount of money to provide the infrastructure that’s going to be required.”

“The bank’s in a real situation, because they cannot sell this 34 1/2 acres as farmland,” he added.

Blew offered to submit a bill of assurance, a letter guaranteeing the subdivision will be limited to 79 houses, by the commission’s March 10 meeting.

Quin Thompson, a city planner, said Monday the proposed zoning is not compatible with surrounding pastures and rural-residential property zoned one unit per acre. He added that the land is in a “sensitive environmental area” next to Goose Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River.

Mark Aasmundstad, who lives south of the property on Foster Lane, told commissioners he was initially skeptical about more dense zoning.

“But after hearing Mr. Blew, if he could give assurance, I would like to see that corner develop,” Aasmundstad said. “It is a bit of an eyesore.”

He said his only concern is more traffic onto Double Springs and Sellers roads, which are both narrow, two-lane streets.

Andrew Garner, city planning director, said developers will likely be required to make street improvements before plans for the subdivision are approved.

The rezoning will be reviewed by the City Council if it clears the Planning Commission next month. Actual plans for the subdivision would come later in the development review process.

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