By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The ever-expanding Lake Shores housing addition on Decatur’s east side is moving toward yet another expansion, but first needs a bit of assistance from the City of Decatur.
Brett Miller, of Miller Land Surveying, told city council at its latest meeting that he is representing the Drier family, which owns Lake Shores, in asking the city to give up a small piece of land as the housing addition looks to expand east.
The Driers would like to construct 20 homes on the east side of E. Monroe St. Extended, but need to clean and shift a ditch a short distance on city-owned land, according to Miller.
County officials have given their approval, Miller added.
Mayor Dan Rickord said one of his biggest concerns involves how many trees would be taken down. Miller didn’t give a specific number, but said it’s a 40-foot strip.
The trees in that area act as a buffer zone for the city’s nearby water plant, Rickord added.
The mayor then asked if the Driers wanted to purchase the land involved. Miller replied that they were asking that it be given to them.
“I certainly don’t want to hinder development, but I don’t want to set a precedent by giving land away, either,” Rickord said.
He noted at one point that he wanted City Attorney Anne Razo “to see if we can just give land away,”
“We want housing, we need housing,” said Councilman Matt Dyer who resides in Lake Shores and is president of its association.
In that position, Dyer said, he has been “getting a lot of questions” about when the new lots are going to become available for purchase.
Dyer also noted that the 20 new lots are part of an overall plan to add 70 more lots/homes.
Another aspect to consider is the Decatur Police Department’s shooting range located in the same area. The land in question is north and east of the shooting range.
The consensus was that there would be no increased danger, but Police Chief Kevin Gerber pointed out that trees “buffer sound the best” and that he would have slight concern about proximity of the new homes.
Winding up the discussion, council decided to table the matter until its next meeting.
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