Final plans to build 74, single-family residences at a 10.33-acre property in Silver Spring Shores were approved by Marion County officials on Tuesday, paving the way for a development that was originally approved for 82 townhomes in 2021.
Armstrong Land, LLC’s master plan for Whisper Woods was approved by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, June 17.
Located at the corner of Pine Road and Bahia Road in The Shores, Whisper Woods received approval for its planned unit development (PUD) in 2021. At the time, plans called for the construction of 82 townhome residences that were attached and divided among a dozen buildings. Each building was going to consist of six to eight units.
Now, the development will feature 74 units with 26′ x 100′ lots, equating to a gross density of 7.6 dwelling units per acre. County staff says the developer met all requirements and conditions imposed by the county in the months of discussions leading up to the approval.
Last July, the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with conditions of the modification to the Whisper Woods PUD.
Before the approval on Tuesday, the MCBCC engaged in a discussion about the development, expressing several points of concern for this and other sites with similar plans in the future.
In particular, the board was critical of lot widths and available parking spaces, with Chairwoman Kathy Bryant suggesting several times that she did not support the project.
Commissioner Craig Curry indicated that this and other developments the board had recently approved had not allowed for enough parking. He suggested both single-family and multi-family developments have created situations where visitor parking is inadequate, leading to congestion along roadways within neighborhoods.
“Some of the projects that we have approved and they have developed, I went over and looked at, and to me, our code probably doesn’t allow for enough parking inside these projects the way they’re developed,” said Curry.
In response, the applicant’s representative, David Tillman of Tillman & Associates Engineering, indicated that county staff and Tillman had worked together to address the spacing issue, emphasizing that Whisper Woods had single family homes that each offered about 1 and 1/2 parking spaces.
Commissioner Carl Zalak III asked that the backs of the homes in the development that face the roadway have improved architectural features. The issue was something previously requested by the commissioner. Zalak was told by county staff that a correction would be made to the conditions to accommodate the request.
As the discussion continued, Curry took several shots at the aesthetics of new developments.
“We sit here and we spend hours talking about how a development is going to look. And when it’s built, you go in there and it’s horrible,” said Curry. “You can’t even walk on the sidewalk because there’s a car parked on it.”
Curry said the board would not be solving the issue during the meeting, but that he wanted to “set a tone” for future discussions.
As the discussion on Whisper Woods continued, Chairwoman Bryant once again expressed her disbelief at the project and the proposed dimensions.
“Do you guys really realize what this is going to look like when it’s built out,” asked Bryant before letting out a large sigh.
“We’re anticipating a quality product,” said Tillman.
When Tillman reiterated that the homes would accommodate at least one vehicle and would have garages, Bryant sarcastically dismissed the remark.
“At least one vehicle, ooo. That’s a goal?” asked Bryant.
All the commissioners then chimed in about their relationships with their own garages, with Commissioner Matt McCain jesting that he has a “lifelong goal” of being able to park in his own.
Zalak indicated that he was concerned with the layout, and expressed that the final product might not look appealing.
“I have a feeling Commissioner Curry is going to be right and you’re going to make a mess out of this thing, David. I hope he’s wrong.
Before issuing a vote, Bryant and Curry both then indicated that they didn’t originally vote for the project.
“For the record, I did not support this at the first public hearing and I am not supporting it now,” said Bryant before the board issued its final vote. “There’s my discussion.”
The motion passed 4 to 1, with Bryant dissenting.
“They are never going to hear the end of it if you don’t [make this work],” said Bryant to Tillman.