Condo project moves ahead despite pushback
Officials vote 4-1 to move forward
Proposed plans for a new condominium development on County Line Road in New Baltimore are moving ahead, despite protest from some area residents.
The New Baltimore City Council voted 4-1 on March 13 to approve the planning commission’s recommendation to give the Willow Creek Estates Site Condominium Subdivision project preliminary approval and grant a request for special approval land use. The developer is looking to build a 43-lot site condominium subdivision on nearly 13 acres of land on the east side of County Line Road, north of Green Street. Access will be provided from County Line Road and the existing single-family development to the north.
As part of the motion approved at the recent meeting, quarterly updates will also be provided to the city council as the project progresses.
“Going forward we still want to make sure that we’re keeping eyes on this … to make sure that they’re doing everything up to spec and to code,” Councilperson Ryan Covert said.
Several citizens who live near the site in the Willow Creek subdivision and on Woodland Drive attended the meeting, with some urging the city council to turn down the project. Those in opposition cited concerns about an adjacent conservation easement and potential flooding that could come as a result of the development.
Bill Thompson, a principal engineer and president of Lehner Associates Inc., spoke at the meeting on behalf of developer Piero Nardone.
“Everything that’s happened in the last 25 years on that property has been totally legitimate,” he said.
City Clerk Marcia Shinska voiced concerns about sending more runoff into Crapaud Creek.
“The water is so high now that when there are events it is eroding the properties along the Crapaud Creek. … We’ve lost almost 3 1/2 feet already,” she said.
“The drain can’t take any more,” she added. “There’s no place for that water to go, and it’s going to affect all the people on Fox Pointe Drive.”
Thompson said water will be pumped out into the ditch on County Line Road and drained south underneath Woodland Drive and County Line Road, and then into Crapaud Creek. The developer is not required to clean out any drains, he said.
Resident Lori Pearce said her home in the Willow Creek subdivision, and others in the neighborhood, are already showing damage.
“Our house — if you come over and you look at he steps — it’s sinking,” Pearce said. “This is what’s happening to these homes. These are homes that people live in. You’re worried about building more stuff to get taxes, but you’re going to have people vacating. So please reconsider.”
Michelle Wypiszewski, who lives in the Willow Creek subdivision, pointed out the proposed plan includes two water basins.
“So if they put two additional water basins in that facility and water was to run in, would they be better off and more protected if there was in fact two water basins?” she asked. “We have double the homes and we have yet to flood.”
An online petition to stop the project garnered more 300 signatures.
“We ask that the city keep a close eye on anything moving forward with this piece of land because we will definitely be watching,” said Woodland Drive resident Angela Fresh, who created the petition, at the council meeting. “And so will the over 300 people who are mostly residents who have signed this petition to make sure that this project is rendered properly.”
Fresh also requested proof the development will not encroach on the conservation easement. At a Jan. 24 planning commission meeting, member Jack Dailey said the project is clearly outside of the conservation easement, according to the minutes.
Officials pointed out the project will still need to go through engineering reviews and other steps in the process before construction can begin.
The motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem David Duffy and supported by Covert. The dissenting vote was cast by Councilperson Flo Hayman while Laura Szymanski was absent from the March 13 meeting.
“I voted against this project before when it’s come before council,” Hayman said after the vote. “I have real concerns about this project.”
The site of the proposed development is zoned R-70, single-family residential. The city’s zoning ordinance allows site condominium subdivisions as a special land use in any single-family zoning district, subject to several items being submitted.
A special land use review was done by city planner Steve Cassin, who recommended preliminary approval of the proposed development subject to compliance with all applicable building, engineering, fire and public works regulations. The planning commission voted unanimously following a public hearing on Jan. 24 to send the special approval land use to city council for preliminary approval.
The review states all proposed lots will have a 70foot width at the front setback line and a minimum lot size of 8,400 square feet. The street within the development will have a right-ofway width of 60 feet and a paving width of 28 feet. Additionally, 5-foot wide public sidewalks are indicated on both sides of the street within the development, as well as trees throughout, landscaping with decorative fencing along the County Line Road frontage and entranceway signs.