-
In an ongoing struggle between a developer and residents, the St. Cloud City Council voted Thursday to approve a zoning map amendment for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the Walker Property.
In an ongoing struggle between a developer and residents, the St. Cloud City Council voted Thursday to approve a zoning map amendment for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the Walker Property in east St. Cloud.
Developer RJ Whidden and Associates plans to build 69 single-family detached homes on the 25.59 acres located south of Chisholm Park Trail. Local residents shared concerns at last week’s City Council meeting about the small lot sizes and the effect of increased traffic on the area.
Kristen Nuzzo, president of the Chisholm Estates Homeowners Association, said, “The builder has one interest, and that is making the maximum money possible. They have little interest in what this community looks like in 20 years. The community asked for minimum 85-foot lot lines to be comparable to the community I live in. Chisholm Estates has 59 homes of varying sizes, between quarter-acre and half-acre lots.
“The lot sizes of the current PUD is 37 homes at 62 and a half, which is .17 acres, and 32 homes at 75-foot lot lines, which is 0.20 acres … nowhere comparable to the current homes in Chisholm Estates. The community submitted a petition of residents requesting comparable homes with minimum 85-foot lots.”
In January, the St. Cloud Planning Commission agreed, and unanimously denied a request from RJ Whidden to amend the property to PUD.
“It is concerning that the maximum size lots here are half of what we would normally see … 7,500 square feet versus 15,000,” said Planning Commission Chairman Phillip Lantry.
Some changes have been made in response to residents’ concerns, Attorney Jo Thacker pointed out at the meeting. Changes include larger, 75--foot lots around the perimeter with smaller, 62.5-foot lots within; 25-foot buffers along the existing areas; a 10-foot trail going around the development out to Narcoossee Road as well as Chisholm; and the removal of street parking on Albany.
Whether those concessions were enough to satisfy the Council, or they were simply tired of “kicking the can down the road,” as Councilmen Ken Gilbert and Kolby Urban put it, after some hesitation and two requests from Mayor Nathan Blackwell for a motion, the Council did approve the motion with a 4-1 vote, with Deputy Mayor Linette Matheny voting to oppose.
