Council holds off voting on Brookview Reserve

First reading held on project for former horse pasture on Route 84

Developers of a former Mentor horse pasture will have to wait a bit longer to get their housing project underway.

Developers of a former Mentor horse pasture will have to wait a bit longer to get their housing project underway.

City Council this week held a public hearing and the first reading on Pulte Homes’ request to rezone about 73 acres west of Deepwood Boulevard on Route 84 from R-4 Singlefamily Residential to RVG Village Green.

Also part of the request is a preliminary site plan for Brookview Reserve, calling for 174 homes to be built in four phases. The plan has undergone several revisions in the last 11 months.

A couple of council members asked for more time to evaluate the plan.

Councilman at large Scott J. Marn expressed appreciation for Pulte’s efforts and responsiveness, but also asked for a chance to show the higher end type of housing he would like to see. “What I’m asking you for is that we make these homes as nice as possible,” Marn said. “There’s a right way to do the project and there is also a better way of doing a project.”

Pulte Planning Director Jim O’Connor said he would welcome such an opportunity. “Within Northeast Ohio, we have, as a production builder, the highest average sale price,” he said. “Our average sale of a home is over $425,000. The markets that we operate in are the most desirable markets.”

Eight house styles are proposed, with the average price in the $330,000 range and sizes from 1,800 to 2,600 square feet.

The development will target first-time buyers, such as young professionals relocating for a job, and those looking to downsize.

“We believe the project we have proposed offers solutions to address some of the demographic challenges that impact the housing that is available,” O’Connor said.

Six-year Maple Street resident Spyro Sintsirmas, 33, spoke in favor of the proposal for that very reason.

“When I was looking for homes, it was incredibly difficult to find a place that had been fixed up (and) I didn’t need to do a lot of work on a house,” he said, adding that he had a frontrow view to the Pulte project that went up on rundown nursery property across the street.

“I got to sit on my patio for two years while they put up house after house on this dilapidated, busted up, old property that was kind of an eyesore,” he said. “And I saw new people coming in, I saw community flourishing.” Two residents spoke against it, one requesting a more substantial buffer between his property and the new development.

O’Connor indicated that Pulte would continue to work with neighbors during the development process.

The project was recommended by the Planning Commission with the following conditions:

• The developer shall work with the city to provide an overflow pipe from the existing stream to the storm sewer on Route 84 to help reduce the flooding and erosion issues downstream at Stoneybrook Lane to the east. The Ward Brook stream shall be dredged within the development.

• Brookview Lane shall be extended to connect both drives within Phase 1 to provide a minimum of two points of access to a dedicated public right-ofway during each phase of the development.

• Emergency access only to Deepwood Boulevard and no construction traffic through Deepwood

• A permanent pedestrian access easement and bridge access to a common area southeast of the property in Phase 1

Phase 1 includes a main entrance opposite Plaza Boulevard and access to 30 sublots, and a western entrance across from Life Point Church and link to 25 sublots.

Phase 2 would comprise 31 sublots on an interconnect road between the two entry points and another 16 sublots and a cul de sac ending at Deepwood Boulevard.

Phase 3 would comprise 39 sublots and Phase 4 would contain 33.

The proposed open space would total more than 25 acres and include a pavilion, community garden and walking trail. Four seating/ overlook areas are included along Ward Brook.