The St. Cloud City Council has approved a plan to annex 25.6 acres of land on the northeast side of East Lake Toho, as well as one to assign a land use of low-density residential.
But, at the last council meeting, the board could not come to a consensus on the Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the Walker Property. They cited the same nearby resident concerns that the lots, planned for 69 homes, are too small at 62.5 to 75 feet. Residents of Chisholm Estates said the minimum for their community, which is zoned low density residential, is 85 feet. A representative for the neighborhood produced a signed a petition about the small lots.
Council Member Shawn Fletcher lobbied for 75-foot lots on the perimeter.
“We’ve been working on this project for well over a year. It’s one of the most precious areas of our city,” he said. “I don’t believe what’s been proposed, and we’ve made great changes, If we can get 75-foot lot lines where it abuts the perimeter where there are 1-acre lots, we can protect the folks on those lots.”
Mayor Nathan Blackwell noted that the City has been working with the developer for a year to implement changes based on concerns expressed by neighboring property owners.
“I understand the frustrations of those who live close by,” he said. “The developer made concessions they don’t have to make. I think we need to approve this, with conditions.”
In the end, Fletcher and Council members Linette Matheny and Ken Gilbert voted against the PUD.
The developer noted that the Council’s action — annexing it and assigning it a low-density residential land use without passing the planned unit development means they will have to develop the land with 75-foot lot lines, but without the other concessions agreed to as part of the amended application.
Residents also asked for conditions that placed the development’s entrance on Chisholm Park Trail rather than Albany Avenue as a traffic issue, and that all construction traffic should enter and exit from Narcoossee Road. But, those were part of the outvoted PUD.
