By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Palmetto residents will soon have a new housing option.

At its most recent meeting, the City Council voted to allow Clay Gilley to develop a townhouse project on a 25-acre site on Carlton Road.

The homes are priced from $80,000 to $110,000 and will be between 1,000 and 1,600 square feet.

In previous developments, Gilley said he could get six homes on an acre tract, but said he will have to have the property evaluated for buffers and wetlands before he has an exact number.

The site was previously zoned R-6 for rental apartments, but the council approved changing the zoning to R-5, condominium-townhouse.

Gilley said there will be a homeowners association to make sure the property is maintained and added the community will offer more affordable housing to Palmetto's residents.

In other news, resident David Thomas wondered if the city has plans to extend sewer service to residents on north U.S. Highway 29.

Mayor Clark Boddie said plans were being developed to extend the line, but could not provide an exact timeline.

"If a major development were to come in there, it would move the schedule up," he said.

Thomas grumbled about not getting any services for his tax dollars to Palmetto, but Boddie said he was getting numerous services.

"Any time you need a policeman he's there," he said.