WESTOVER — Price Street resident Jessica Thompson said rumors abound in her part of town about the development in the works across the street from her home.
Representing her family as well as her neighbors, Thompson on Monday brought those concerns to the Westover City Council.
As first reported in October, Joe Panico, doing business as Victory Holdings, plans to reconfigure approximately two acres of property at the end of Riverview Avenue into 15 lots upon which he intends to create a housing development.
“We’re not against it. We are definitely for progress in Westover, and it should be evident by my house alone in that neighborhood,” Thompson said. “So, we’re all for trying to clean it up … basically, the community would just like some more information.
Members of council explained that the development, as described, would be up to 15 single-family homes for rent and/or sale ranging in value up to $300,000
Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said each home will sit on approximately 4,000-square-foot lots and adhere to the applicable requirements in the city’s planning code.
Thompson said concerns over additional traffic in the already-congested area is a major talking point for the surrounding neighbors.
“You go down Riverview, everybody knows it’s almost like a one-way street at times with vehicles parked along there. I don’t know if you guys could consider [making it one way] somehow, or have the individuals that park along the streets make driveways … especially down towards the end, near Price Street. It’s very, very tight,” she said, noting people often speed down the narrow streets as a sort of cut-through.
Councilor Mark Gall explained that while 15 homes is the number tied to the fully built-out development, it’s not all happening at once.
“I think some people are thinking it’s going to go from zero to 15 houses. If I understood correctly, when he made his presentation he said he was going to build two or three, rent them for a couple of years, then try to sell them and take that money and invest it in the next two or three,” Gall said. “I think a project of that magnitude is something that may be, you know, eight or 10 years or more in the making. I’ve talked to a couple people, and they seem to think all the sudden 15 houses are going to appear on that lot. I just don’t think that’s the case.”
Mayor Bob Lucci followed up, explaining that as the development goes forward, the city will be watching.
“One thing that we can look at, and we’ll get with the police department — we can do more enforcement. But also, maybe we can look at the one-way thing. Once it gets started and going, I think we’ll be able to look at it closer and maybe come up with some possible remedies. We’re all about that — the whole council is,” Lucci said. “So, we will do the best we can to try to lessen your concerns.”
A public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. June 2 in Westover City Council chambers regarding final approval of the major subdivision plat submitted for the project.
