Loudonville Builder Hochstetler Log Homes to build five new homes
The Mansfield Planning Commission is hearing plans to develop a 41-acre lot
The Mansfield Planning Commission on Tuesday heard preliminary plans to develop a portion of 41 acres owned by the Webster family at 377 Sherwood Drive to build five single-family log homes with a private drive and private facilities.
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Five homes on the secluded wooded estate will be the initial plan for phase one, and further development is expected to come with additional homes, said Bud Vetter, a Mansfield attorney representing Webster Family Property Development.
The Mansfield dentist plans to build homes and live on the site
Dentist Dr. Rock Webster, the owner of the property, also plans to live on the site and build the homes by Hochstetler Log Homes in Loudonville.
Hochstetler builder Steve Likens told panel members the homes would be luxury, luxury cabins. He said the Hochstetlers built the cabins locally at Lake Pleasant Hill and built the new lodge at Hocking Hills State Park.
“With Intel building in Lycoming County, I think it would be a great shot for Mansfield,” Vetter said.
Likens said new homes would cost between $250,000 and $800,000 to build. He said the homes will range in size from 1,600 to 3,100 square feet.
There was a conversation on Tuesday about some misunderstandings between the parties involved and city leaders regarding plans to develop the PUD, or District of Planned Unit Development. Webster said he wanted to build five homes on five acres to start with on a private road. He is not planning a mixed-use housing project.
Vetter and Webster assured the committee members that everything would be resolved and that all parties would work together to do the right thing.
Committee members put forward a proposal to approve the concept of the five-house, five-acre, drive-through plot construction project and have further discussions with Webster at a future meeting about whether to consider PUD and expanding the project with more homes.
As for the construction timeline, Vetter said Webster wanted to move quickly and his client came to the planning committee hoping to get the concept approved before Webster spent his money on site plans and the parties involved in the project.
Chris Brown, the city’s assistant director of law, said there was “no concept” in the city’s codes of whether or not it was valid under the code, and he wanted to make sure the commission was putting together the right proposal and that the parties wouldn’t come back and say things were misunderstood.
Mansfield Assistant Fire Chief Chris Spellman and Capt. Rob Garrn attended the meeting due to concerns about the planning of the Webster estate like Stonegate, a planned unit developed near Trimble and Millsboro roads, which did not have fire hydrants.
Turtle Creek is adding 120 affordable senior apartments
Also on the agenda, Ahmed Thomas, an architect with TC Architects, presented initial plans for a 120-unit addition in Turtle Creek Apartments, 363 James Ave., multi-family areas.
Nine of the ten proposed units are three storeys high, which requires approval from the Planning Commission. Thomas was seeking a conditional zoning certificate in order to meet this week’s deadline.
The Planning Commission has given its conditional approval for the project with further parking provided in accordance with the code.
Funding has been approved for the project, which could begin as early as spring 2024, said Steve Andrews, president of the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority. Bond financing has been granted for a $27 million to $28 million affordable housing development for seniors. He said the construction is being funded by bond gap financing and state funds provided by the federal government.
An update on the demolition of World Cinema
In other news, the commission heard a brief update on the demolition of 1300 Park Avenue West “Cinema World” using Skilkin Gold. The demolition process is nearing completion as the structure was demolished and removed but final approval of the site was not completed due to the contractors experiencing sewage problems.
A demolition contractor is moving forward at the Westpark Shopping Center
Also, Brown gave members of the Planning Commission an update on the demolition of the Westpark Shopping Center saying that the demolition contractor has filed a $50,000 bond but that the city is waiting for a separate $50,000 bond from the realtors. A representative of the property owner may attend the planning committee meeting on March 28.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
