The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Wednesday, February 10, 1999
Subdivision extension plan resurfaces

By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

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Frank Love is trying again to convince county officials that he should be allowed to develop a fourth phase in Jeff Davis Plantation subdivision.

His request to revise the subdivision's final plat to include 21 land-locked acres, and to extend an existing eyebrow at the end of Antebellum Way, will go before the County Commission Feb. 25.

The group turned down a similar request in December, but that request included a change in zoning for an additional 33.9 acres to the east of the 21-acre parcel, with plans to add that section to the subdivision as well. Love said he has given up any idea of developing that section, though he may develop it under its current agricultural-residential zoning later.

Three residents of the subdivision attended last week's Planning Commission meeting to speak in favor of Love's plan and to back up his contention that the property in question was supposed to be part of the subdivision all along. One resident also spoke in opposition.

Planning commissioners unanimously voted to approve the request after Love explained that his original plat, drawn in 1987, showed the subject property as part of the subdivision, but he later negotiated to sell the property to the developer of the Woodlands next door, with plans for access to the property from that subdivision.

The problem, Love said, is that the other developer has repeatedly delayed finalizing the deal, and in the meantime Love has had a heart attack. An airline pilot, he has been grounded by the health problem and needs to develop his property to earn a living, he said.

"I need to get phase four back," said Love. He said his original plans showed 60 feet of right-of-way continuing Antebellum Way into the property, and 18 lots in the new phase. "The houses that will be built there will be as nice or better than those already in place," he promised, committing to build homes a minimum of 2,300 square feet in size.

Leland Rhodes, who lives on Cavalier Court, backed up Love's assertions. "Everything we were told was that these phases would be developed with homes on them," he said, adding that he appreciates the fact that Love lives in the subdivision he developed, a rarity.

"I know the land is zoned and will be developed," he said. "I would prefer that Mr. Love be the one to develop that. Residents Richard Johnson and Mike Escarra echoed those sentiments.

But David Day, who lives on Antebellum Way, said when he bought his home the plat showed only the current 57 homes on 76 acres. "I feel that some of us are being punished because of a land deal gone bad," he said.

Planning commissioners disagreed. "My feeling is if we were to deny extension of Antebellum Way, it would be a taking of his land," said commissioner Jim Graw.


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