MOUNT VERNON — Twenty-one more lots will soon come online in the Gilchrist Estates subdivision.
On Thursday, the Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat for Phase 2 of the PND (Planned Neighborhood Development).
The expansion adds 1,500 feet of additional road for the city to maintain. The city will also maintain the two retention ponds and the water and wastewater lines.
Chad VanSickle of Diversified Engineering, Schlabach Builders’ engineering firm, said construction is slated to start in early spring after the appropriate permits are received.
Permits include city stormwater, an impact permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, and an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency permit.
City Engineer and MPC member Brian Ball said the city and developer went through a lot of the stormwater and utilities aspects in Phase 1. Phase 2 will flow from there.
The Shade Tree and Beautification Commission approved the Phase 2 tree removal plan, and the trees have been removed. The STBC has also approved replacement trees.
Mount Vernon City Council approved the Gilchrist Estates PND in June 2021. The total number of homesites planned is 109.
Phase 1 features 20 single-family lots. A few remain unsold.
Phase 2 will also be single-family homes.
Schlabach Builders asked the city to maintain the stormwater system. Property owners will pay the same stormwater utility fee that city residents pay.
They will also pay a surcharge to cover the cost of maintenance. The surcharge will go into an account designated solely for the PND’s stormwater maintenance.
Ball previously said the city would annually evaluate the money in the account and the maintenance needs and adjust the surcharge up or down accordingly.
