Concerns expressed by Town Engineer John Freel over Planning Board conditions, which have not yet been addressed, led to the tabling of the Green Wood Park housing development final site plan approval by the Ogden Planning Board February 11.
The townhouse/apartment project is proposed on 27.3 acres near the northwest corner of Whittier Road and Westside Drive.
“The majority of comments have not been addressed … I am reluctant to ask for a motion for final approval,” Planning Board Chairman Gary Parker told developers and engineers for the project. Phase 1 includes the construction of 30 townhouse units in eight buildings and 56 apartments in seven buildings as well as construction of a clubhouse and swimming pool with public water and sewer facilities.
Peter Vars, a project manager with BME Associates, said comments regarding the first section of the project had been addressed, but John Freel said he would like a thorough review of the preliminary approval before final approval is given. “I like to get everything worked out in the preliminary,” Freel told Vars.
“We will do it, we will take care of it,” Vars said.
The application was tabled until the March meeting.
Don Riley of Mark IV Development detailed work he has done since preliminary approval was given in 2015, to address concerns of residents in the area. Neighbors told the Planning Board during a public hearing last August that they are worried about increased traffic, drainage, loss of mature trees, privacy and streetlights.
Riley said he had met with various neighbors over the past several months and developers are working to secure the development for the safety of young children and to prevent people cutting through yards.
“We resist fencing due to maintenance,” Riley explained. “We like natural landscaping.” He noted in addition to landscaping to help improve privacy and security, drainage will be improved for neighbors.
“We will do privacy screening and landscaping,” he said. “We have a serious commitment to our neighbors. Drainage will help make it a more pleasant area …. we will be securing the right-of-ways until construction.”
When asked by Planning Board Chairman Gary Parker to describe feedback he has received from residents, Riley said, “Neighbors would probably prefer nothing be there, (but) they’ve been very nice… they’ve been very receptive to potential solutions.”
He added that Mark IV manages and maintains its developments. “People will get tired of seeing us,” he observed. “We’ll also have a relationship with the town.”
Peter Vars said Section 1 of the development includes the seven apartment buildings and the clubhouse, which is 12.9 acres or 40 percent of the area total. Additionally, both dedicated roads in the development will be constructed.
He noted the condition of preliminary approval to separate townhouses from the exterior limits has been met.
“We pulled them into the interior…. to bring them farther away from the property lines,” Vars said.
The development will include street lighting on 14 foot poles with 150 watt fixtures, Vars said.
