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I-271 is part of deal for new townhouses
(by Sali McSherry - October 20, 2010)
I-271 is part of deal for new townhouses
By SALI McSHERRY
Pulte Homes, a national company, began construction this week of the first five-unit building in its 16-townhouses project parallel to Interstate 271 off Brainard Road at Sterling Lakes in Pepper Pike.
Last week, the company presented approved drawings by the architectural review board to City Council.
The townhouses, which each are about 21 feet wide with an average 1,736 square feet of living space, will cost in the range of $200,000 to $250,000, or higher, depending on customers' interest in upgrades. Three buildings of multi-family units are planned, two with five units and one with six units.
The buildings are to be constructed of brick and vinyl siding and are intended to be very low maintenance, said Mary Spenthoff, general sales manager of Pulte Homes.
City Building Inspector Nino Monaco said he's "very pleased" with the drawings and types of materials the company plans to use.
Pepper Pike Councilman Clevis Svetlik said he's concerned about noise issue from I-271 traffic that includes high-speed lanes.
Mr. Monaco said, while people should know there would be noise if they live near the highway, sometimes they don't realize it until they move in. He suggested that the company install sound barriers in the rear of the townhouses.
Stan Katanic, director of land for Pulte Homes, said the company's architects have looked at the issue, and the plans exceed code standards.
It's no secret that there will be some noise, Ms. Spenthoff said, but it's a trade-off with lower prices and the location close to shopping and highway access.
The townhouses are about 175 feet from the eastern edge of I-271, city Engineer Donald Sheehy said. Separating the highway and the townhouses will be a graded change in elevation of about 20 feet, utility lines, a vinyl fence and an access drive to the garages that face the highway, he said.
Master bedrooms will be located in the front of the townhouses, away from the highway, while secondary bedrooms will be in the back, Ms. Spenthoff said. Windows will be double pane, which meets the code, she said. Pulte architects have said that triple-pane windows would not make a noticeable difference in terms of blocking sound, she said.
There will be well-insulated fire walls between units, Mr. Monaco said.
Resident Manny Naft asked if there are any building codes that address decimal levels.
Mr. Sheehy said there's no way to control the source of the sound from the highway. The sound level is affected by many factors, including the condition of the pavement, traffic volume, trucks and time of year, he said.
Some residents in the interior area of the adjacent Sterling Lakes development have experienced more noise than those who have units closer to the highway, Mr. Monaco said. Brainard Road and a dirt mound with evergreens are between I-271 and Sterling Lakes, he said.
Councilwoman Jill Miller Zimon asked if the initially stated target market of empty nesters has changed, because Pulte officials kept referring to "multifamily" units.
Ms. Spenthoff said it's just a term used in the industry to describe multiple units in a residential development. She said, they don't know at this point who will purchase the units, research has shown that upwardly mobile professionals and single mothers may be interested in the homes due to their affordability and location.
The company recently had over 60 real estate agents for an open house at a local restaurant to introduce the concept of the townhouses, she said, and there have been over 80 inquiries for more information.
Pepper Pike resident John Berkobein said there are no houses available in Pepper Pike for as low as $200,000. He said he's concerned about the low price and asked how the new construction would benefit to the city, considering income taxes and property taxes would be lower.
There are houses in the city that are in that price range, Mr. Monaco replied.
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