More subdivisions coming to county

Published 6:00 am Sunday, November 1, 2015

Development continues in rural Lafayette County with the planning commission giving approval this past week to another proposed subdivision and approving changes to a current development.

Jeff Williams with Williams Engineering came before the commission outlining the first phase of Oxford Springs subdivision that will be located on County Road 215. Initially there will be 10 2,400-square-foot units on 10 3-acre lots with all of them facing east and fronting County Road 215.  Williams said each unit will have its own well and septic system.

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There is also an option to develop more of the 2,300 acres that currently have an existing road for access to future development.

Before the commission gave its approval pending the health department review and submission of covenants, Ron Kitchens was one of two homeowners in the area who questioned the development.

“We’re OK with neighbors, but we have a few concerns,” Kitchens said. “We enjoy the stars at night and would appreciate not having great big yard lights out there.”

Williams said he would pass along those concerns to the developers.

Meanwhile, commissioners also heard from developer Bill Westbrook on his Twelve Oaks II and Twelve Oaks IV projects.

Westbrook sought to eliminate two lots at Twelve Oaks Phase IV for a total of 10 lots.

“They will all be the same size, same houses,” Westbrook explained. “We’re just cutting out two lots.”

County engineer Larry Britt said he advised Westbrook to come back before the commission seeking this change before making a presentation to the board of supervisors. He added that “waiting on the bond amount and the agreed to amount,” which must be presented before approval.

Westbrook said Twelve Oaks Phase II is a 26-lot development along West Cook Avenue. Britt explained this is called phase two of the development “because he had submitted approval several months ago and because of the time frame, he came back with a proposal that builds a street called Atlanta Avenue.” The new road creates access to the development, rather than from College Hill.

“We didn’t want 10 or 12 houses to front College Hill so close to the entrance,” Britt said. “They will all front on Atlanta Avenue.”

Commission chair TJ Ray said houses will face north.

“We will put in the covenants that there will be no access to College Hill,” Westbrook said.

The commission granted preliminary approval.

Supervisors are expected to consider the planning commission’s recommendations on all three developments Monday morning.