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Park, fewer units now proposed by developer
(by Sali McSherry - March 17, 2010)
Park, fewer units now proposed by developer
By SALI McSHERRY
Forest City Land Group's latest proposal for the Pointe at Sterling Lakes in Pepper Pike includes the potential for a 4-acre passive park and decreases the number of units from 132 to 102.
Ninety-three units were approved in the original agreement. The number of units in the entire Sterling Lakes project, which is a maximum of 285, would remain unchanged.
William Sanderson, of Forest City, the parent company of Sterling Lakes, presented the revised plan to Pepper PikeCity Council last week. The Pointe is on the south side of relocated Brainard Road. The Sterling Lakes gated community is on the north side of the road.
The proposal features 36 units in the first phase, including 16 townhouses, parallel to Interstate 271, with rear garages facing the highway. It would increase the number of total homes by six instead of the originally proposed nine. It also preserves an additional six home sites for first-floor master bedroom manor homes, Mr. Sanderson said, and would bring that total to nine.
Phase two would consist of 66 three-story, traditional-style townhouses, he said, in blocks of four to five units with front-facing garages. One row would back up to Village Plaza Shopping Center on Chagrin Boulevard, Mr. Sanderson said. There would be no drive between the shopping plaza and the approximate 21 units but there would be mounding and trees, he said.
Fire Chief Thomas Hartman expressed concerns over the absence of an emergency drive and wanted further information about the project.
A preserve area-park would be kept and a walking trail would be connected to an existing walkway leading to Chagrin Boulevard and shopping areas.
There could be an opportunity to revert to original unit types with no increase in density, which could mean the park would be reduced in size or eliminated, Mr. Sanderson said.
Councilwoman Gail Mayland said, philosophically, she's against giving "broad discretion" to the company to change the plan in the middle of the game.
Mrs. Mayland asked if Mr. Sanderson had spoken to existing homeowners at the Pointe about the newest proposal.
Mr. Sanderson said he had not, but he understood residents were meeting at the same time as the City Council meeting. He said Forest City has a "cordial relationship" with those residents, but they had not agreed on a previous plan.
Pointe residents have voiced concerns over the last few months over Forest City's plans to build less expensive units and increase the number of them.
Affected residents were invited to attend last night's meeting (March 17) to learn more about the newest proposal, Mayor Bruce H. Akers said.
Forest City has a potential deal with national builder Pulte Homes to build the units at a projected rate of 15 to 20 units per year, Mr. Sanderson said.
Councilman Scott Newell said he's concerned about the quality of building materials that would be used.
Councilman Frederick Taft said the plan "looks interesting," but council needs assurances the construction quality would be high. He suggested the building company prepare a "model design" for council's review.
Councilwoman Jill Miller Zimon said she had understands the development was built with the intent of attracting empty nesters. If there are not units with first-floor master suites, then there would be a shift in whom the buyers would be, she said.
Mr. Sanderson said that, according to market research, it was found that it "feels a little too urban for the price" empty nesters would pay.
Eric Bell, a Pepper Pike resident and vice president of Goldberg Cos., which has partnered with Forest City on projects, said the irony is that empty nesters want maintenance-free living, but they're not necessarily downsizing.
Some empty nesters are moving to golf-course communities and age-restricted developments, Mr. Sanderson said.
In marketing research recently conducted, Forest City concluded that single professionals and first-time homeowners between the ages 26 and 35, would be the primary buyer of the proposed units at the Pointe. They would be priced between $275,000 and $325,000 with opportunities for custom enhancements that would drive up the price, he said.
Mr. Akers said while triplexes and duplexes had been proposed for the gated area of Sterling Lakes, at this point there are only single-family units.
Mrs. Mayland said when council initially agreed to Forest City's concept of Sterling Lakes, members were "adamant" that the company would not return to make changes in the agreement.
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