Annexation isn’t the only thing going on in Midway Woods.

As anyone that lives there knows, talk of annexation just across the border has recently been mixed with another kind of buzz:  that of chainsaws.

A home developer has shocked local residents by clear-cutting more than 4 acres of land on the northside of Midway at South Candler in order to construct 28 homes on-site, inspiring one resident to write in asking “Where’s the Lorax when we need him?”

So I decided to do a little digging and clear the air.  Here’s what I found…

Though the development plan was approved in 2007, construction didn’t begin until early May of this year.  At that time, a letter from resident Conne Thalken was sent to the commission expressing the neighborhood’s concern. [thanks to Paula for fowarding!]

We have not had any contact whatsoever with new developer who assumed ownership of the property since the original developer’s bankruptcy and foreclosure on the property. We in the neighborhood understand that development of the property must hold to the plan as approved in 2006. However, we are uncertain about the new developer’s commitment to the conditions of the plan and concerned about the City monitoring the execution of the plan.

Along with the letter, Conne included the 17 point condition list that was attacted with the city’s approval.  It includes things like a privacy fence on the westside of Midway Road, an evergreen buffer on the eastside, a $5000 donation to Midway Woods park, a mandate to clear kudzu and help with traffic calming measures on Midway Road, no gate, and all homes must meet Energy Star rating.

However the biggest condition of all is number 12: “Preservation of the Open Space depicted on the Concept Plan prepared by FocalPoint Engineering, which is dated March 29, 2006, will be achieved and will be placed in a Conservation Easement to be governed by the City of Decatur.”

According to the city’s planning director, Amanda Thompson, the entire site is actually 8.92 acres, and the comprimise the city made for preserving half the site was to allow the full development of the other half.  She also adds ” They will have very tiny yards and will probably sell for around $500k.”

In regards to worries about the new developer complying to these conditions, Amanda assures us that they “are being followed and the site is inspected by either the Engineering Department or Development on a weekly basis.”

So…now you know!