By Bill Short
The Millington Planning Commission has approved the Design Plat for Phase 2 of the Thornhill Estates residential subdivision south of Big Creek Church Road.
Commission members took the action during their June 21 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Leanna Dagen and seconded by Chairman Chuck Hurt Jr.
The motion was passed by five affirmative votes, with Mayor Terry Jones and Curtis Park absent.
Charles Goforth, planning consultant for the city, said the subdivision was developed sometime before the “housing recession hit” in 2008, and not much has happened since then.
“It was actually approved in about four sections,” he recalled. “The first section was really two sections, so, it was combined.”
Goforth said Phase 2, which is the eastern part of the subdivision, will have 118 lots on 44.84 acres. The property is zoned R-1, Low-Density Residential, which requires 80-foot lots with a minimum of 10,000 square feet.
He recommended that the commission approve the Design Plat with the following conditions:
(1) The entrance on Big Creek Church Road must have 22 feet of pavement on either side of a 10-foot median.
(2) The Engineering Plat must be submitted in accordance with the city’s Subdivision Regulations.
(3) The design of the detention basin must meet the 25-year storm requirements.
During discussion shortly before the vote, Goforth said the U.S. government has determined that “cluster mailboxes” must be installed in all new single-family subdivisions. He noted that the developer has proposed one kiosk for all 118 lots.
“We know that’s not enough,” he acknowledged. “That’s too many people having to go to that one place. We’re thinking that no more than 50 should be on any one location.”
Goforth said that, before the Engineering Plat is submitted, the planning staff will continue working with the developer to determine exactly how this will be done and where the kiosks will be located.
In response to a question by commission member Mike Caruthers, Goforth said he is not sure whether the local postmaster can waive the kiosk requirement.
He noted that the “rules” say residents should not have to walk more than one block to a kiosk. And if they live within a block of existing houses, they should have the same kind of mail delivery.
But Goforth said that is not how the post office is “interpreting” the rules.
Caruthers said the commission should require the developer to follow the rules, because a cluster of 60 or 70 mailboxes at one kiosk is “just not acceptable.”
In response to a question by commission Vice Chairman Brett Morgan, Goforth said it is possible that the subdivision might lose some lots because of the requirement.
But he noted that a corner lot might be converted into a straight lot, with the kiosk located on the excess space.
“We don’t want the kiosks on a main street, where people will be pulling out into traffic,” Goforth said. “If there’s open space in the development, that would be a good place to do it.”
Morgan suggested that cul-de-sacs, where there will already be a “turnaround,” would be good places to locate them.
Goforth agreed with Caruthers that the city should have its own ordinance establishing the maximum number of mailboxes that can be in a kiosk.
“The only issue is that, if we do it more restrictive than the post office will accept, it won’t deliver the mail,” he said.
When Goforth noted that the kiosks do not have to be “covered,” Caruthers said the ordinance should include that requirement.
“For some people, it’ll be fine,” Goforth said. “But there are a lot of people who won’t be able to walk to them, and they’ll have to drive.”
