Milton planners give approval for Cannery Village plans
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved preliminary site plans for Cannery Village Phase IV.
Plans for the development had been on hold, awaiting approval by town council on a series of waivers from town code and for developer Chestnut Properties II LLC to make design changes.
The proposed Phase IV calls for 117 townhouses on a 27-acre parcel at Cave Neck Road and Front Street. Project designer Brock Parker of Salisbury-based Parker Associates said plans call for standard town streets - 28 feet wide - as well as sidewalks on both sides.
“We have a plan that is code compliant,” he said.
Parker said the townhouses are a mix of duplex, triplex and four and five bedroom homes. He said each townhouse has a garage, and buildings are set back far enough to park a car between the house and the sidewalk. Plans call for 98 additional off-street parking spaces, Parker said, and 12 acres of open space including wetlands and woods. The entrance to the development will be from Front Street, he said.
In April, town council had approved waivers allowing Chestnut Properties II to reduce the size of required parking spaces, limit a sidewalk to one side of the street and build a longer-than-allowed dead-end street. But at planning and zoning’s Aug. 20 meeting, Parker said design changes coordinated with town staff have rendered most of those waivers moot.
Still to be worked out is design for a pump station in the rear of the property. Town engineer Sharon Cruz said pump station design and other utility concerns would be resolved prior to final approval.
“This plan, as opposed to last time it was before the commission, is a much nicer community, with wider streets, and I think we should go ahead with a preliminary approval. From a preliminary standpoint, it is a plan that can go forward,” Cruz said.
With the addition of Phase IV, Cannery Village would have 338 units - 117 in Phase IV plus 221 existing units. Cannery Village’s large-parcel development plan allows for 538 units.
Not voting on the site plan were Commissioners George Cardwell and Larry Lieberman, who live in Cannery Village. They abstained from voting to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
A date for final approval has not been set. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
