Delaware City Council on May 13 held the first reading for the proposed annexation of 100 acres of land located on Peachblow Road, directly east of the Belmont Place subdivision. Pending the approval of the annexation, Grden LLC is proposing a 263-lot development on the site, which would be called Winterbrooke Place.
In February, the Delaware Planning Commission discussed a conceptual review of the proposed subdivision. The property currently sits in Berlin Township. However, the property is also located at the very southeast corner of Delaware’s long-existing utility boundary, meaning the property would need to be connected to the city’s sewer and water services.
Later that month, council took the initial step in bringing the land into the city by approving a resolution of services for water, sanitary, refuse, fire, police, and road maintenance services upon the pending acceptance of annexation.
Under the proposed concept, the majority of lots would range from 6,760 to 8,450 square feet, with 21 lots totaling 10,400 square feet. The proposed density of the subdivision, which has become a point of contention with prior developments, would be 2.41 units per acre.
The developer is proposing 21 of the lots to be 80 feet by 130 feet, 130 lots at 65 feet by 130 feet, and 112 lots at 52 feet by 130 feet. The design standards of the lots are expected to be consistent with the adjacent communities at Glenross and Belmont Place.
The single access point would be off Peachblow Road and would extend north to connect with Winterbourne Drive coming south from the Communities at Glenross subdivision. A connection west to the Belmont Place subdivision would also be constructed.
There would be 106 of the single-family lots located east of Winterbourne Drive; with 157 located on the west side of the drive.
During the February discussion to approve a resolution of services, Councilwoman Lisa Keller voiced concerns about the fiscal impact the additional land would have on the city. She pointed out there is already a shortfall in funds for the city to fix roads without adding more land.
Attorney Michael Shade, who is representing Grden LLC, said during that meeting that if the city were to decide not to accept the annexation, they would need to make a decision on releasing the land from the city’s utility service area so that the property owner could keep the land in Berlin Township and be able to access their services.
A public hearing for the annexation and preliminary development plan has been set for the next council meeting, which will be held on Monday, June 10. The city has until July 9 to make a decision on the annexation before the process becomes void.