2008-30 APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO PHASE I PD, PHASE II PD AND R-6 PUD - WABASH CROSSING

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of March 6,2008 contin ed: Section 6-5 of the Subdivision Ordinance (Ordinance 80-56) states hat after the final plat has been submitted to the Economic and Urban Development Dep ment, said plat may be considered by the Plan Commission at a public hearing. A motion t forward Calendar Number 08-06 to City Council with a recommendation for approval is suggest d. Mr. Cochran, petitioner's representative, stated the infrastructure, str ets, alleys, sewer water are all in place for Wabash Crossing Phase III. This is basically filling i the vacant lots. The initial plans were to build single family homes but the market in Decatur will be better serviced by duplex and quadplex structures. Thirty (30) buildings will be built, fifteen (15) duplex, fifteen (15) quadplex for a total of ninety (90) living units. East Lake wi 1 be the developer and the property is owned by the City of Decatur and the Decatur Housing A thority (DHA). Mr. Mickler stated that he was under the impression that the purpose of the single family homes was to add some stability to the area. Mr. Cochran responded the ov rall plan was a mixed plan of single family homes and with other type living units along with mi ed economic sectors living within the development. There were three (3) model homes that we e constructed and all three (3) have been sold. It was a joint decision between East Lake, the Ci of Decatur and DHA that the area would be better served with duplex and quadplex housing. Mr. Bill Davis,project manager for East Lake, was sworn in by Mrs. oland. Mr. Davis stated three (3) years ago three (3) homes were built as ingle family model homes. The homes were on the market for two (2) years and they were not able to get the price anticipated. Mr. Davis said they worked through the DHA wi h a professor at Millikin University who did a market study. The conclusion of the study w s that the homes were not going to be achievable to the people who would need to get the lo s to buy the homes. Based on the study a decision was made not to build single family homes t t might possibly sit vacant for several years but to build rental units which there is a large deman for. Mr. Greg Crowe was sworn in by Mrs. Poland. Mr. Crowe stated the original plan was for the home ownership unit to be scattered in all three (3)phases of Wabash Crossing. Due to a variety of factors, includin the current housing market and mortgage prices, the new home ownership development is oving slowly. Since the infrastructure is built in the Phase I and II areas it made sense to mo e the Phase III rentals into these areas instead of letting the lots stand vacant. Hopefully, as t e market develops a future homeownership development phase will be done in the original Phas III area. There were no objectors present. It was moved and seconded (Dunn/Anderson) to forward Cal. No. 8-OS and 08-06 to the City Council with recommendation for approval as presented by staff. Mo ion carried unanimously.