March 28, 2024

Cardinal Ridge increases some duplex sizes, loses one lot

Some infrastructure work impacted

Expanding the size of four duplex lots at Cardinal Ridge will mean losing one lot at the subdivision and more infrastructure work.

To accommodate the duplexes proposed by Ground Breaker Homes at Cardinal Ridge, city council approved an amendment to the final plat increasing the lot widths by about 16 feet.

The lot line shift creates the need for a transformer to be relocated because the current transformer would interfere with a proposed driveway and visibility. Further, there is now an extra sewer stub along the north side of Cardinal Ridge Drive.

“We have one transformer that will need to be relocated and a crew would have to be mobilized back to the site,” community services manager Brian Laube said. “The approximate cost is $5,000.”

Laube said he is unsure of who is responsible for the cost associated with the move at this time. City administrator Matt Muckler said a second transformer, which is centered in the new Lot 5, may also be moved, because it may create an undesirable view. The extra sewer sub, Muckler said, can remain unutilized at the location and all other sewer stubs will accommodate the realignment of the lots.

Councilman Jeff Price asked if there are any further changes in the foreseeable future to the already established lots, including those on the south side of the property.

“We very clearly asked Ground Breaker if there would be any proposed changes coming on the south side,” Muckler said. “We requested that if they saw any coming down the road that they address it now and they assured us that the product they want to place on the lots on the south side would not run into the same problem.”

Price also asked how losing one lot at the development would effect costs, including property taxes. Muckler said an analysis was run based on the previous plat and the new alignment and found it came out “a wash” on taxes, with no real financial impact made.

“The duplex homes as proposed by Ground Breaker Homes are not able to meet the maximum lot coverage requirement of 30 percent per the zoning ordinance for the subdivision,” city administrator Muckler said. “Rather than scale the size of the duplex down, the preferred solution selected by the developer is to amend the final plat to enlarge the duplex lots.”

Cardinal Ridge subdivision consists of 14 lots located at the former Newton Country Club. Lots for single-family homes and duplexes in the $225,000 to $300,000 range will be available at the development. The city purchased the 4.25 acres for $106,000 in March 2016 for the housing development.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com