A subdivision of 239 small homes is planned on 65 acres along County Road 101 about a mile north of County Road 466 in Oxford.
Special Magistrate Grant Watson recommended approval of the Densan Park planned development at a meeting Tuesday of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board. The city commission likely will consider the project later this month.
Densan Park would be located behind The Villages of Parkwood and across County Road 101 from the back of the Village of Summerhill.
Each home would have a minimum living area of 750 square feet on a lot of 55 by 120 feet. A 10-foot setback is required between house foundations. Construction of the first phase must begin within two years, according to an agreement between the developer and the city.
Homes would be built on three sides of property that is not included in the development.
The second phase would include a 1.4-acre recreation area with basketball courts, tennis courts and a playground for children.
The developer, Densan Partners LLC, would satisfy a requirement to provide 20 percent of the land as open space with the recreation area; 7.4 acres of buffers and open space; and 8.8 acres of storm water retention areas. About 10 acres would be used for internal roads.
Nearby residents raised questions about the development plans at the meeting.
Matthew Shaw said the project map shows no landscape buffer for three lots. John Sexton said he’s concerned about headlights shining into his home from the subdivision entrance.
“It used to be a horse farm,” he said, adding that he has owned the property since 2004.
Representing the developer, civil engineer David Springstead suggested that planting bushes across the street could block the headlights.
“We have a nice landscape package going in,” said Springstead, who met privately with the residents after the meeting.
Watson incorporated a map amendment to show the buffers and a requirement that the developer work on the headlight issue into his recommendation.
