By Bill Short
The Millington Planning Commission has unanimously approved a Design Plat submitted for construction of The Preserve at Lucy residential subdivision west of Amherst Road.
Commission members took the action during their May 18 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Chuck Hurt Jr. and seconded by Vice Chairman Mary Jo Thornburg.
The application was submitted by Cindy Reaves of SR Consulting LLC on behalf of Lucy Partners.
The proposed 122-lot subdivision will consist of 49.61 acres south of Lucy Elementary School, east of the Canadian National Railroad tracks and approximately a half-mile north of the Charles W. Baker Airport.
Cole Yoders, GIS coordinator and inspector with the city’s Department of Planning and Economic Development, told the commission that the subdivision will be constructed in three phases consisting of 35, 39 and 48 lots, respectively.
Because the property is zoned R-1, Low-Density Residential, he said each lot must have a minimum of 10,000 square feet and be at least 80 feet wide.
He noted that an R-1 lot is also required to have a setback of 30 feet in the front and rear, with 10 feet on each side.
Yoders said access to the property will be on Amherst Road, with two connections provided by proposed subdivision roadways named Hollow Branch Court and Lucy Bishop Lane.
He noted that Amherst Road currently provides 50 feet of right of way, with only one 12-foot-wide “travel lane” in each direction.
Because of the number of lots, he said Amherst must be improved with a 60-foot right of way to accommodate the “additional trips” generated.
Yoders said approximately 14 percent of the subdivision is designated as common open space, with most of it located near the center of the property, “straddling” Phases 2 and 3.
He noted that these areas will help facilitate stormwater management.
Yoders said the city’s Subdivision Regulations require “continuous screening” along the rear of residential lots that have “double frontage” on public streets.
So, common open space areas must be provided along the west side of Amherst to screen adjacent lots from the public right of way.
A sewer pump station is currently located within the property, which Yoders said would require access for maintenance “throughout and after” construction of the subdivision.
He noted that the Design Plat illustrates approximately a 15-foot “gap” between Lots 15 and 16 that would provide adequate access for maintenance vehicles on the proposed Hollow Branch Court roadway.
The commission’s approval of the Design Plat included the following staff conditions:
(1) The area of the smallest, largest and average lot must be specified.
(2) Zoning classification must be labeled on the property and all of its adjacent properties.
(3) Right-of-way widths for proposed roadways must be specified.
(4) Right-of-way dedication must be illustrated along the west side of Amherst to accommodate the proposed 60-foot right of way.
