The New Hanover planning commission has some very real concerns about new detention basins. Planning commission chair Sue Smith reported on the planning commission's recent discussion on the basins at the New Hanover Board of Supervisors' meeting on Monday, October 23.
Smith said that several development plans submitted to the commission had basins for the communities shown on property that would be owned by an individual homeowner, effectively making that individual responsible for the upkeep of the basins.
Smith said that the commission is suggesting that this type of system not be approved with a Homeowners' Association or management group that would shoulder the responsibility of the maintenance. She noted that if the piping used in the basins failed it could potentially cost a homeowner $80,000.
The supervisors agreed that the township should be looking into this matter.
In other development news, Smith also reported that the developer of Pacers' Gate, a proposed housing development along Dotterer Road, had come to the meeting with a brand new plan and was asking for waiver requests. Smith said the commission told the developer to come back in only after improvements were made to the plan.
Developer Craig Edwards attended the supervisors' work session to present some new ideas for the planned development at the intersection of 663 and 73. At this time 617 age-restricted units are proposed, consisting of non-age restricted apartments, single family homes, townhomes, and twins, with the addition of a life care/full care facility. The development is called Signature Living at New Hanover.
Edwards is suggesting removing the life care facility completely, and moving the apartments to that location, and then adding quad homes at the previous location of the apartments.
The supervisors expressed concern. "What you're showing us is a new plan with new repercussions," said supervisor Kurt Zebrowski. He stated that one of the selling points of the development was age restrictions, which received approvals under a different now defunct developer approximately ten years ago.
Traffic planner Sandy Koza said that the lifting of the restriction and the elimination of the life care facility would result in more trips generated over township roads.
Edwards will do research and return at a later date to discuss the possibilities for the development.
In roads news, public works director Dennis Flynn stated that Courtside Road would be paved the second week of November.