Hills
of Oakmont on horizon
by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
Get ready for the Hills of Oakmont, a 304-lot subdivision
that will soon be going up south of Platte City.
The Platte County Commission has approved a rezoning
request by Valkyrie Land Investments, asking to rezone
166 acres from PI (Planned Industrial) to R-7 (Single
Family High Density), for the development of the 304 lot
single-family residential subdivision.
The subdivision, which will be located along the east
side of Running Horse Road, a half mile south of NW 136th
Street, will average lots about 9,100 square foot in size.
As a part of the Platte County Subdivision Regulation,
the subdivision must contain at least 9.05 acres of park/recreation
area. The proposal indicated that 9.57 acres of park land
will consist of open and treed space.
Valkyrie Land Investments proposed a 20' wide strip of
ground to construct an 8' wide trail running north and
south along Running Horse Road in conjunction with the
Platte County Northland Trails Plan.
Valkyrie Land Investments will fund 100 percent of the
construction of the cost for the public trail. In addition,
55.39 acres will be preserved as private open space, which
will consist of natural drainage basins in low-lying areas
and will provide storm water detention for the subdivision
and landscaping buffers.
The developers also stated they will dedicate 10 feet
of right-of-way, widen Running Horse Road to 20 feet from
centerline, install 2-foot vertical curbs, and install
appropriate stormsewer collection. The subdivision will
have four accesses to Running Horse Road.
In addition, .91 acres of land will also be dedicated
to Public Water Supply District #4 for the construction
of a water tower.
While a portion of the property is located along Prairie
Creek, which is within the 100-year floodplain, no home
construction will take place with the 100-year floodplain
areas.
A planning and zoning staff report that recommended the
approved zoning change stated: "Under the current
zoning classification (PI) the property could be developed
into lots for industrial development. Use in this area
are residential and agricultural in nature. If the subject
property were to develop in an industrial manner it would
likely have detrimental effects on other property in the
area."
The proposed development is similar to the Oak Creek,
Timber Park, and Timber Park Meadows subdivisions in the
vicinity.
In other business at last week's meeting, the commission
heard from Frank Offutt, secretary of the Platte City
Benefit Assessment Special Road District.
Offutt spoke to the commissioners about acquiring additional
right-of-way along 136th Street. This would require condemning
a one-half acre tract of land off 136th Street to secure
the right-of-way and for the straightening and regrading
of the road.
On the particular one-half acre tract is a family cemetery.
Offutt stated that as development continues in that area,
an additional right-of-way is necessary.
"Since it's this particular spot there are three
unique considerations: the road curves, the vertical elevation
and there's an object in the right-of-way (the family
cemetery)," said Offutt. "Now we have the making
for a traffic safety issue.
"In order to straighten the road and regrade the
vertical elevation we would have to proceed on the one-half-acre
tract of land to remove dirt," said Offutt. "To
proceed, that requires the additional right-of-way."
Betty Elgin, a descendant of family members buried in
the plot at the cemetery, attended the commission meeting
in support of the special road district's request.
She stated she'd prefer the cemetery to be relocated
to another site to avoid future vandalism and development
that may impact the ground where her relatives are now
interned.
Offutt said they would try and relocate the family members
to the Platte City Cemetery, where there's perpetual grave
care.
The commission voted to take the request under consideration
and to have a decision by the next commission meeting.
The commission also approved rezoning requests for Curtis
Ashby to rezone 2.5 acres from agricultural to R-80 (rural
single family). The second request was from Helen Sue
Gabbert on behalf of Timothy and Elissa Groce and Richard
and Sandra Buckler to rezone 47.5 acres of land from agricultural
to rural estates for a two lot minor subdivision. The
first lot will be set on 14.5 acres, with the second lot
of 33 acres of land.
Lori Freeman was appointed by commissioners to the planning
and zoning commission. Commissioners also accepted a request
for bids from planning and zoning for a four-wheel drive
truck.
was appointed by commissioners to the planning and zoning
commission. Commissioners also accepted a request for
bids from planning and zoning for a four-wheel drive truck.
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