NEW ALBANY —
An extension of Daisy Lane in New Albany could be a component of a residential, office and commercial development known as Summit Springs, as a vote will soon be held on the land use of the property.
Summit Springs isn’t a new development, as the Louisville firm LDG sought state tax credits last year for its planned 104-affordable housing unit complex on property off State Street.
The land is behind the Burger King restaurant opposite the Daisy Lane intersection.
A proposal to declare the property a planned unit development district, or PUDD, was recently given a favorable approval by the New Albany Plan Commission.
The New Albany City Council will hold the first two of the required three votes on the PUDD distinction likely at its Oct. 18 meeting. Currently the 64.5-acre tract has just a small section of commercial land use zoning.
It does have a steep slope classification, which is a reason some believe it may not be a good idea to develop on the site.
“I did vote against it because of my concerns of the stabilization of the hill,” said Councilwoman Shirley Baird, who as the body’s liaison on the plan commission has already cast one vote on the PUDD proposal.
The commission gave approval to the request 6-2, but the council has the final say in the matter.
“I don’t know how stable the hill is, and that worries me,” Baird said. But “I will wait until I hear everything before I make a final decision on the vote.”
Scott Wood, director of the city plan commission, said a prior firm footed a geo-technical survey of the hill that expressed some concerns and proposed solutions for development so that the hillsides of the property would be stable.
He said the study was completed when the project was to be more densely developed, as there were to be 240 apartments originally before LDG became the development firm.
“Much less of the hilltop is being impacted by the development,” Wood said.
Less than half of the property is being proposed for development, he continued.
He added the “remainder [would] either be part of a utility transmission line easement or open space that’s reserved from development” due to the steep slopes.
Also, there will be no access to the development through Fawcett Hill Road, which Wood said is a key change to the project. Instead, motorists would enter the development via an extension of Daisy Lane, Wood said.
The cost of the Daisy Lane extension would likely be shared between the developer and the city, Wood said, as New Albany would likely use tax-increment financing to foot its portion.
A message left for LDG seeking comment for the story Thursday hadn’t been returned as of press time.
Wood said as proposed, the development could also include a hotel, restaurant and a bank.
Baird said she originally had planned to bring the matter up for a vote when the council meets Monday, but decided to wait until later in the month to give residents ample time to consider the proposal.
A public hearing was held by the plan commission on the project, but residents can still weigh-in by signing up to speak before the proposal receives council consideration.
The public is allowed to address the council on agenda items at the onset of their meetings.
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