Seven public hearings set for Wednesday

Published 9:41 pm Saturday, October 15, 2011

Suffolk residents are invited to share their thoughts on seven different topics during a Wednesday City Council meeting packed with seven public hearings, including one for a controversial development off Pitchkettle Road.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Council chambers, 441 Market St. It will be preceded by a work session at 4 p.m.

Cloverleaf Development, LLC, hopes to amend approved proffers for its planned Foxfield Meadows neighborhood. The developers want to increase the number of multi-family units from 114 to 158, reduce cash proffers and reduce minimum square footage and alter design standards for single-family dwellings.

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The changes initially were protested by a group of neighbors in the adjacent Westhaven Lakes community, but those neighbors have been negotiating with the developers for a resolution. The City Council tabled the issue during a September meeting to allow more time for those negotiations to take place.

City staff recommends denial of the request, and the Planning Commission voted in June to recommend denial as well.

During the other public hearings, citizens are invited to share their thoughts on property acquisitions in Crittenden and Eclipse for water and sewer extensions; a new flood plain ordinance; a telecommunication tower at the Suffolk Executive Airport; a tattoo parlor on North Main Street; an accessory dwelling in the Lake Prince Meadows neighborhood; and modify city ordinance related to the jobs-to-housing ratio.

In the open session portion of the work session, the City Council will discuss a cash proffer study and a utility infrastructure cost participation policy.