If all goes as planned, Biscoe will be home to a new apartment complex that could begin accepting residents sometime in 2010. Biscoe Town Board approved the rezoning of 20.8 acres in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, from Agricultural Residential to Residential Conditional Use (R12-CU) during the meeting Nov. 10.
Bill Beardslee, an engineer and land planner from Sparta, N.J. who also has a residence in Seven Lakes, said he saw the property a few years ago and liked the quiet setting and good transportation access.
Beardslee said after talking to town officials about demographics, as well as considering the railroad tracks and powerline along the property, he felt rental apartments would be more feasible.
The property, with access of Cedar Creek Road, lies between the new Green Ridge Elementary School and Southside Baptist Church. Beardslee agreed to the R12-CU zoning after discussions with Town Manager Brooks Lockhart. The zoning gives the town greater control over development by setting conditions, such as building plans and larger setbacks than the usual R8 multifamily housing zone.
Town water and sewer are already in the area and the developer is responsible for any lift stations or extensions to get to the sewer line. Beardslee has also agreed to voluntary annexation, bringing the property within town limits.
As shown at the meeting, plans call for a circular roadway around an interior open space, play area and parking areas. Along the outside of the circle are 13 buildings, of eight to 12 units per building. Apartments are two bedroom units of between 900 to 1,000 square feet.
Beardslee said as a registered planner, he’s concerned about the environment as well as the economic feasibility and has drawn the plan to have less than 25 percent impervious surface and wants to leave as many trees as possible for separation between buildings as well as to buffer around the development.
In response to questions from residents, as well as the Southside Baptist Pastor Michael Lynn and Montgomery County Schools representative Kevin Lancaster, Beardslee said the plan is to build only one or two buildings at a time, wait for them to rent and then move on. Although he wouldn’t give any figures on estimated rental amounts, he said he plans to have a quality development and will definitely not be accepting government housing subsidies.
Mayor Jimmy Blake noted the town has been aware of Beardslee’s interest for the last few months and said he has visited the property. Blake said it should have no impact on the nearby Lewis Lyles Cemetery, the church or the school, and with road improvements in the area because of Green Ridge Elementary, the roads are now there for the traffic.
Later in the meeting, after Beardslee had left, Lynn asked Blake where he thought the tenants would come from. “These are what I call high-rent apartments. I hope there’ll be people to move in,” said Blake, adding that he knows a large number of teachers in local schools live outside the county because of problems finding appropriate housing. He said the complex will add to the town’s tax base without creating additional costs for infrastructure and after discussions with the current and former chiefs of police, said he feels good about the project.
Commissioner Jerry Smith said his five rental properties are always full and he gets regular calls from people looking for rentals.
Following up on a discussion last month about abuse of the town’s policy for picking up limbs and brush, the board heard suggestions from Lockhart but tabled the matter for further information and a more specific proposal.
In other business, the board:
• Confirmed Ricky Watts as the town’s new fire chief following the resignation of Kelly Kellam and Watts’ election by the volunteers.
• Approved a citizen participation plan required for the CDBG funds award for expansion at Central Carolina Hosiery.
