By Jacki Moss

Special to the Tribune

The Lewisburg City Planning Commission approved the site plan for Phase One of the construction of almost a dozen townhomes adjoining Saddle Creek Golf Club. Although the vote was unanimous, it was based on contingencies. The primary contingency was that the plan receive a zoning variance from the Zoning Appeals Board to address a problem with the positioning of one of the units. The other contingency was that all 17 comments made by the City's Engineering Consultant on the project, Jim Patterson, be addressed satisfactorily.

The meeting began with the proposed development's landowner, Eddie Roberts, asking the commission if they had received his request for Jim Bingham, a commission member, to recuse himself from the vote. The commission acknowledged that they had received his request and that they denied it, finding no foundation for Bingham's recusal. There was no further discussion of the matter.

The developer then took to the podium, explaining that before the commission was the site plan for Phase One of the project that, in its entirety, would develop between 30 to 35 units. In response to Mayor Barbara Woods' question about the timeline when Phase Two would be initiated, the developer explained that Phase Two's timeline would depend upon the success of Phase One. The initial focus would be on getting market demand and filling the first 11 proposed units, he said.

The developer assured the commission the construction of the townhomes would in no way interfere with the golf course or the ability to play on it.

The discussion mostly centered around the need for a 10-foot set-back variance for unit 11. The commission suggested several options for the developer including removing unit 11 from Phase One and carving out a space for it in Phase Two. Roberts responded that he would not make a decision on reshaping the site plan on the fly. "I'm not trying to force the issue, but I can't assure you that I will move forward on that until I look at the numbers," he said.

The commission agreed the set-back would need to be brought before the Zoning Appeals Board and gain approval from that board, which would take a minimum of 10 to 12 days.

Commissioner Robin Minor expressed concern that the unit 11 issue was just one of 16 other questions that the city's consultant had about the site plan. "Can these other items be addressed in that amount of time?" he asked. The developer said that all items would be addressed while working toward obtaining the zoning variance.

"There won't be an ounce of dirt moved on this project until all items are addressed satisfactorily and all zoning needs are met," Woods told the commission.

The motion stated that the commission accepts the site plan as presented, based on the contingencies that all noted items be satisfactorily addressed, adding that the commission recommends approval of a zoning variance, and that the project obtain necessary zoning approvals. The motion was approved.

Woods said that she feels that the project is good for the city because it is indication of the economic progress the city has been showing lately. "We have seen a return to some building here, which is encouraging," she said. "This is another example of growth for us."

Additionally, Woods said that projects such as these are important to show potential companies considering locating or relocating here that Lewisburg has something to offer everyone. "When companies consider a location, they like to see upscale homes and developments like this one," she said, because they are suitable for their upper management employees.