ASHLAND — The Ashland City Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat design for a new condominium development on land near the intersection of Smith and Baney roads.
The unanimous approval on Monday functionally gave the developer, Brandon Hunsinger, the green light to dive into the lengthy engineering phase of Eagle Landings.
Eagle Landings, during phase one and two, calls for 63 lots with 123 units on 46 of 58 acres. The plans show four roads that provide access to the 2-unit condos, labeled “A” to “D.” Hunsinger said there will be some single unit condos as well.
Another 12 acres lie to the property’s northwest, which is labeled “future phase.”
Hunsinger said he does not have a timeline on when a future phase would begin, saying it depends on market demand.
Floodplain concerns
Planning commission member Rick Ewing expressed concern over the existing floodplain zone shown in the plat design. It affects 13 lots.
Hunsinger, who attended Monday’s meeting, said the floodplain has not been studied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to know how severe the flooding could be. Nevertheless, the plan is to incorporate detention ponds throughout the development.
“Generally speaking, when a development like this happens, it improves drainage,” said Shane Kremser, the city’s engineer. “However, residents who obtain a mortgage to live at Eagle Landings will likely need to purchase flood insurance if they are within the floodplain.”
Hunsinger said he estimates the floodplain will likely mean the development loses up to three lots, in order to build stormwater management infrastructure.
Kremser also said the city will likely need to build a lift station for the development’s sanitary sewer system because of the property’s lower topography.
But he and Ashland Mayor Matt Miller also alluded to another development nearby moving in, further necessitating a lift station.
No other details on the possible other development were shared.
Pre-purchase lots?
Ralph Tomassi, a resident, asked Hunsinger if the lots can be pre-purchased.
“The short answer is no,” Hunsinger said. “When we get further into our design and the lots are little more clear and somebody may want to put down preference to a lot … so it’s not a hard no.
“It’s just we’ve never done that before. And that idea could certainly be discussed.”
Another resident, Mike Law, wanted to know more about how purchasing lots work. Hunsinger said the lots with duplexes on them will be split 50/50 of the whole lot.
He said the lots will have their own parcel numbers that will be reviewed by the county auditor’s office, which will assign tax rates. And though each owner will own a portion of the lots, the development’s Homeowners Association will manage the properties.
Hunsinger has said he doesn’t have an exact start date on construction. But he hopes his company can begin moving dirt for infrastructure — water and sewage systems, other utilities and roads — later this year.
“Structures, we’re shooting for some point in 2025,” he said.