A second edition of Ashley Estates got a stamp of approval Tuesday night from the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
As proposed by developer Maurice Schmidt, Ashley Estates II would consist of 20 two-bedroom condominiums, spread across five buildings. A private drive would connect the development to the 1600 block of Prairie Street.
Like the previous Ashley Estates near 15th Avenue and Lincoln Street, the condominiums would be marketed to seniors.
“Between now and 2020, the senior population will double,” said Schmidt. “(Senior housing) will be something needed and in strong demand. Ashley Estates has shown us in living color that the demand exists. And Ashley Estates has met some of that demand.”
The plan now goes to the Emporia City Commission for its approval. Ashley Estates II is a planned unit development, meaning that if it’s approved, it has to be built exactly as shown on the plans.
Patty and Dennis Delmott, who live near the proposed development, said they had concerns about traffic, light pollution and flooding. The Delmotts said the area near their home already collects quite a bit of water and could grow worse if the vacant lot gets built up.
“When there have been heavy rains, I drive through the water, stir up waves and the wave goes into my neighbor’s yard,” agreed Cynthia Patton of Prairie Park Lane. “I don’t think that’s going to get better with more concrete.”
Dennis Delmott also said he’d rather see families with children come into the neighborhood to ensure that Village Elementary School stays viable.
“I’m 60 years old next year, so I’m probably due to move across the street into the development,” he joked. “But I’d like to see some young families there.”
Patton said she also was concerned about losing the view that the open lot afforded.
“My opposition — if it is opposition — is mild at best,” she said. “I do recognize the benefits that this will have for the older residents in the community. But at the moment, I’m against the development — for what may be selfish and trivial reasons.”
Schmidt said he wanted to work with the neighbors as closely as possible and has already talked with a number of them.
“I don’t want enemies,” he said. “I want neighbors that will stay and wave at me.”
City Engineer Keith Beatty said that, under city code, some sort of stormwater plan would be needed.
Schmidt’s previous work drew praise from Mary Jo Gallup, who lives near the original Ashley Estates. She said she and her neighbors had many of the same concerns when Ashley Estates was first proposed, but none of the problems had materialized. Traffic hadn’t changed appreciably, the view remained good and the properties themselves were well kept and maintained, an asset to the neighborhood.
“I would simply ask you to drive by and see what you think, whether Ashley Estates has devalued the surrounding properties,” she said. “As far as we’re concerned, the neatness and attractiveness of Ashley Estates speaks for itself.”
Planning commissioners said they appreciated the neighbors’ comments and were satisfied that Schmidt would try to address them.
“As a commissioner, one thing that’s helped me with an applicant who’s been here before is to look at what he did before,” Planning Commissioner Pete Euler said. “Did he do what he said he would do?”
In Schmidt’s case, he said, the answer was yes.
In other action:
F The planning commission recommended rezoning 2.44 acres of land on the north end of the REG biodiesel site from light industrial to heavy industrial. The land should have been rezoned with the rest of the property, but was accidentally dropped from the legal description. It’s located just north of Road 165.
F Planners recommended rezoning about 5.9 acres on the east side of the REG property to light industrial to allow neighbors more of a buffer. The land is being used for a rail spur.
F A proposal for the city to annex 1.14 acres belonging to Jim and Sharon Woods failed 6-1. The annexation would have added just enough land for the property to get a city rate on water service while leaving surrounding farmground in the county. Chairman Christopher Rech argued against the move, saying it would set a bad precedent to take in just a sliver of a property.
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