By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Four homes are the sticking point as the Odom family and the Fayetteville City Council struggle to hammer out an agreement on the family's plan for 54 homes on 20 acres just south of downtown.

On the brink of denying zoning for the plan, council last week decided instead to table the matter and take one more run at working out an agreement.

Council members said they like the plans for Apple Orchard, a “neotraditional” neighborhood offered by Charles and Mary Alice Odom on the southeast corner of Grady Avenue and Beauregard Boulevard, but 50 homes is the most they'll approve.

The city's planning staff also is pushing for a requirement that the Odoms include two entrances, but council members seem less concerned about that.

“I don't have a heartburn about the second street,” said Councilman Kenneth Steele in discussing the rezoning request last week, but i do have concerns with the density we stated we were looking for a month or so ago. Fifty lots is what we asked for and I'm afraid that's what I'm going to have to stick to.”

Dan Odom, son of the applicants, said the family has made numerous changes in the plan in response to comments from staff and council, but they need 54 lots to make the subdivision work.

“Four homes would have a very minimal effect on the city,” said Odom, “but it would have a major impact on this plan. If y'all really want this to be the subdivision that we've all agreed would be an asset to the community, the 54 lots is really as far down as we can go,” he added.

The Odoms approached the city several months ago with plans for 100 empty-nester homes to be built by Bob Adams Homes, well known for quality senior neighborhoods. But council balked at the density, and the family withdrew its request and promised to come back with a more acceptable plan.

This time, Odom said he hopes to acquire the services of well-respected builder Bob Dixon to offer an urban styled development with garages hidden from the street (facing alleys behind the houses), sidewalks, small lots and a variety of exterior styles. But, he said, Dixon's doesn't come cheap, and the family needs more homes to make enough profit to make the project worthwhile.

Under its current zoning, the property could have about 30 homes, but Odom said he would have to do away with a planned 3.5-acre park at the center of the neighborhood, and the homes probably would be of lower quality.

Neighbors of the proposed development have mixed views. “The quality of [Dixon's] homes is really outstanding,” said neighbor Joyce Lester, who visited a Dixon subdivision in Coweta County. “I personally will be absolutely sick if you allow this development to [be lost].”

Lester's husband, Bob, added, “This is exactly what we want to see in the neighborhood. “To be picking over four lots for a development that could really enhance the city is beyond me.”

But Carl Davis of the Lakemont Homeowners Association said residents of his neighborhood are concerned about the additional traffic from such a high density development.

The Odoms will present their plan again at a work session tonight and council meeting Monday, but council members said unless the family can bend on the number of lots, they will vote to deny the zoning.

If the plan is approved, homes will be an average of 2,100 square feet and prices will start at $170,000.