Complete Story
05/22/2015
Dublin Council Considers Plans
By
Developer Charles Ruma has had to make many concessions to proceed with his Riviera housing proposal and a few more might also have to come before he gains approval from Dublin City Council.
The first reading of a rezoning that could make way for 185 single-family homes at the former Riviera Golf Club site was heard by Dublin City Council this week. A second reading and a vote are slated for June 8.
In the original plan from 2014, Ruma proposed 284 single-family homes for the 152-acre site before switching to a conservation design and greatly reducing the number of homes and adding 76 acres of open space.
"I think this is the best housing plan I've ever put together," Ruma told council members May 18.
Council members, however, still had concerns ranging from development standards to tree preservation.
Concerns over the cost of infrastructure improvements the development would require also came up.
According to an infrastructure agreement for the Riviera development that was also given a first reading May 18, a transportation analysis identified road improvements needed, such as a left turn lane into the development, a pedestrian crossing across Avery Road and a connector road to Hyland Croy Road from the western side of the development, which backs up to Jerome High School.
Traffic generated from the development could also contribute to other intersections in the area, causing a need for roundabouts at Avery and Brand roads, Jerome and McKitrick roads and Hyland-Croy and McKitrick roads, and other intersection improvements sooner than anticipated.
The infrastructure agreement would have Ruma mitigating some of the costs of improvements, said Dublin Engineer Paul Hammersmith. A tax-increment financing agreement to help pay for road and sanitary sewer improvements is included in the agreement.
Council also took to task the cost of maintaining open space in the development that would be under city care.
According to a staff memo, maintaining nine ponds on the site would cost $27,045 annually after an initial $72,945 in improvements, and about $188,157 annually to maintain grass and naturalized areas.
"That's a big number and it will naturally increase year to year as time goes on," Councilman Tim Lecklider said.
Council also had worries that homeowners association fees would not cover the maintenance of the rest of the open space.
Councilwoman Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher asked Ruma to consider eliminating two lots to save large trees and John Reiner pointed out issues in the development plan that would impact the quality of the development.
Although there is a section of 29 empty-nester homes, Lecklider suggested retooling the entire development to provide that type of housing stock only.
"I appreciate the preservation of open space here," he said. "I have to say though I think that some in that effort have missed the mark. We don't need more of this product."
The Riviera proposal and infrastructure agreement will go before council for a final vote June 8.
