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Deputy City Administrator Gladhill commented that a balance of urban growth and rural character <br />was an overarching theme of the Comprehensive Plan and noted that the majority of the City is <br />still planned to remain rural with larger lots and sewer and well. He noted that the urban growth <br />follows the availability of City utilities (sewer/water). He stated that the question before the <br />Commission tonight is related to the lot width. <br />Ms. Reud asked if the developer commented that the smaller lots would sell from $250,000 to <br />$650,000. <br />Mr. Schmidt replied that the finished homes would range from $350,000 $600,000 noting that the <br />smaller lot homes would begin at the lower price and the larger lots would have the higher priced <br />homes. <br />Ms. Reud asked if the $350,000 range is the product that the developer believes that empty nesters <br />and first-time buyers would select. <br />Mr. Schmidt confirmed that it is difficult to build a new home for less than that price in today's <br />market. He stated that when the home value averages $400,000 that does not devalue the existing <br />property values. <br />Chairperson Bauer stated that he has seen virtually no teenagers in the Riverstone development, <br />noting that the development primarily has empty nesters in the villas and young families in the <br />larger single-family homes which fits with the market projection that the developer suggests. <br />Mr. Walker asked how many of the Commissioners live on larger lots and could understand the <br />concerns of the existing residents tonight. <br />Commissioner Peters commented that he lives on an 80-foot lot in Brookfield that will neighbor <br />this development. <br />Chairperson Bauer noted that his neighbor's home is ten feet from his house in Riverstone. <br />Commissioner Woestehoff stated that he is on an 80-foot lot in the Woodlands neighborhood and <br />joined the Commission because there are a lot of homes on 80-foot lots and he wanted to be that <br />voice. He stated that his wife is excited that they could have six chickens on their lot. <br />Mr. Walker commented that he raises horses and is concerned with the impact that this level of <br />development would have on his horses and the wildlife in the area. He recognized that it could be <br />hard for others to imagine how the residents in this area live if they do not live in that manner. <br />Chairperson Bauer commented that the same wildlife would not remain whether this is developed <br />with 80-foot lots of smaller lots. <br />Commissioner Peters stated that he has woods backing to his home and has deer, turkey and <br />sandhill cranes in his yard. He stated that he sees the wildlife and therefore the lot size does not <br />always make that go away. He noted that the deer often eat his wife's hostas in the front yard. <br />Planning Commission/ May 7, 2020 <br />Page 11 of 21 <br />