R96-173 AMENDING PRELIMINARY PLAT

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CONIMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM N0.96-201 December 10, 1996 TO: Honorable Mayor Ter M. Howle and rY Y City Council Members FROM: James L. Williams, Jr., City Manag Debora L. Bean, Acting Communit evelopment Director��'�� Robert A. McQueen, Senior Planner �'�'"� SUBJECT: Preliminary Plat -Lake Pointe Subdivision Lake Pointe Subdivision was approved by the City Council in July, 1992. Containing a total of twelve acres, this tract is generally located north of South Shores Drive at Baywood Drive; it adjoins Lake Decatur on the north and east. The subject tract is zoned R-1 Single Family Residential, and it was originally subdivided into twelve single family lots containing a minimum of 20,000 square feet each. Lake Pointe Second Addition was approved in January, 1995; this addition combined three of the original lots into two lots for an overall total of eleven. All lots have frontage on and vehicular access to Lake Pointe, which is an internal cul-de-sac street and the only street serving the subject development. No vehicular access was permitted from any lot directly to South Shores Drive. The question of sidewalks received considerable discussion when the subdivision plat was first approved. Due to steep topography within the development and the location of several large trees, internal sidewalks were waived along the west side and around the cul-de-sac of Lake Pointe. Sidewalks were required along the east side of said street and the north side of adjoining South Shores Drive. The latter sidewalk has been constructed; however, the interior sidewalk as noted has not been constructed, and e�sting land owners within the development have requested that this requirement be waived. The developer agreed to the sidewalk construction as noted when the plat was first approved. Absent the topographic features as noted, staff is of the opinion that sidewalks should have been required along both sides of the new street. Having required the sidewalk along South Shores Drive and recognizing the requirement of the original plat, it appears logical and reasonable to staff that provision for sidewalk on the east side of Lake Pointe should be retained. Whenever new development and/or zoning changes are proposed in existing residential neighborhoods, one of the first complaints received is the lack of sidewalks and the fact that pedestrians must utilize the street, which is regarded as a safety factor. In view of the above data, staff recommends denial of the proposed amendment.