Developer has plans for 53-home gated community in St. John
A gated community with homes in the $1 million-plus range is being proposed for St. John.
Hickory Terrace would be located on the north side of 93rd Avenue across from Prairie West Park.
Jack Slager, with Schilling Development, told the town’s Plan Commission during a study session on Wednesday that the site is a 55-acre parcel and would consist of 53 homes.
The site is currently zoned R-1, which calls for a lot area of not less than 20,000 square feet and a lot width of not less than 100 feet at the building line.
Developers are seeking a zoning change to RC-1-PUD, which includes a high degree of flexibility in the design of single-family subdivisions, offers more efficient use of the land through the introduction of open space and conservation of land within residential sub- divisions.
The roads in the subdivision would be private and maintained by the development’s homeowner’s association.
The site also has more than 5 acres of wetlands and nearly 20 acres of preservation. Slager said they plan to work with an ecological consultant to enhance those areas. One plan calls for a walking path around the wetland.
Developers plan to include a sidewalk in front of the development and a crosswalk to Prairie West Park. The stretch of 93rd in that area would be converted from two lanes to three lanes to allow for a deceleration lane and dedicated left turns into the development, the park, and Oak Ridge Drive.
An emergency access point would be included in the rear of the development at a stub coming out of Knickerbocker Street that would have a gate and some type of key or code system for public safety officials.
Slager said if the development receives all the necessary approvals the first phase can begin this year. That includes the entrance, one road, emergency access and 18 lots.
Overall Slager said they are looking at a five-year development on the land and potentially 10-year construction build on the homes.
“We would expect to sell between five to eight lots a year,” he said. “These are very, very high end - $1 million plus homes.”
Developers plan to return to the Plan Commission March 6 to seek a public hearing in front of the same board on April 3 for the rezone. If all goes well, including approvals from the Town Council, developers would return to the town planners in May or June for primary plat approval.
Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.