By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

After nine months of wrangling, Fayetteville's City Council Monday approved a plan for Apple Orchard subdivision, 50 homes on 20 acres at Grady Avenue and Beauregard Boulevard.

Charles and Mary Alice Odom first presented a plan for 100 homes on the parcel, saying the high-density senior subdivision would be just right for the property, which is near the city's downtown.

But neighbors protested the proposed density, and after a series of meetings spanning two months, the Odoms withdrew their rezoning request, saying they wanted to come up with a plan that their neighbors and the city would be comfortable with.

In July, the Odoms came up with a plan that their neighbors were comfortable with, but City Council balked. Council members said the plan for 54 homes was still too dense, and suggested the couple reduce the number of homes to 50.

Dan Odom, speaking for his parents, said during a council meeting two weeks ago that it would be difficult for builder Bob Dixon to make a profit with the smaller number of lots, and council appeared ready to deny the request, but tabled it instead.

At this week's meeting, neighbors spoke in favor of the project and berated council members for sticking to their guns. “There is no rational basis for the city to deny this project,” said Bob Lester, who lives nearby. “Quality of life, not the [land use] plan, must be the master.”

Neighbors said the Odoms' plan for a “neo-traditional” neighborhood, Charleston-style homes with rear-facing garages served by alley ways, would enhance property values in the area, and the family's enlistment of Bob Dixon, one of the area's most respected builders, gave them still more confidence in the plan.

Since the property in question, at the southeast corner of the intersection, backs up to several large commercial properties, the plan provides a perfect step-down from the businesses to the lower density neighborhoods to the west and south, neighbors added.

“It's going to be a magnet to the elements we want to have in the community,” said Randy Wiles of Beauregard Court. “It's good for the city, good for the neighbors, good for the developers and good for the person that's going to be selling the property.”

Builder Dixon offered to reduce the number of lots to 52, saying the cost of the land and development would make it difficult to make a profit with only 50 lots.

The plan calls for a large central park and preservation of a lake that's on the property, adding to the costs, he said. “We find that people are looking for smaller yards and they love the park areas and the lakes,” he said, adding, “I've never been to a zoning where I've had so much favorable response from the community.”

But Mayor Mike Wheat pointed out that under its current zoning, the property could have only about 36 homes. And the land use plan for the area calls for medium density residential, he said, adding that council members have to hold the line somewhere. “We started with 100 with a land use plan that calls for 36,” he said.

“I'm going to have to stay with 50,” said Councilman Walt White.

Council offered to table the matter again to give Dixon more time to crunch numbers, but in the end the Odoms and Dixon gave in and council approved the project with 50 lots, scrapping a suggestion by city staff that they require two entrances on Beauregard Boulevard.

One entrance will be adequate, Dixon argued, and he'll be able to create a much nicer entrance if there's only one.

Approval of the project carries with it the stipulations that the lake and park be preserved, the alley ways be built as promised, the minimum house size be 1,700 square feet and the minimum price be $170,000.

Dixon will have to go through the city Planning Commission with more detailed plans for the subdivision before starting construction. He said Monday he hopes to have lots for sale by middle to late summer 2000.