193-unit Windsor Mill project gets informal go-ahead from council

Though growth control ceiling presents a challenge,
model homes likely to be built in 2005
by BERT WILLIAMS, News Editor
With Windsor’s Growth Control Ordinance patroling in the
background, members of the Windsor Town Council considered a
proposal last Wednesday night from Work Force Housing Associates.
The developer is proposing to create 193 new homes south of Old
Downtown. Though no vote was taken, the council encouraged the
developer to continue with plans.
“We have to continue to pump activity and life into the
downtown,” said Councilmember Sam Salmon. The council clearly sees
the construction of nearly 200 homes within walking distance of
downtown as a way to further that goal.
But the realities of the town’s growth control ceiling were also
evident at the council meeting. “If we say yes to this, we’re
saying no to something else,” said councilmember Steve Scott. “We
need to be clear on what we’re saying no to.”
Doug Elliott of Work Force Housing Associates at first told the
council that, for the project to proceed, a minimum commitment of
25 permits in 2005 and 50 permits each year in 2006 through 2008
would be necessary.
Town-wide allocations of building permits for market rate
housing are currently limited to 150 units per year. Existing
development agreements for Vintage Greens and Vintana subdivisions
have locked up most of the 2005 allocation, but a few will be
available for downtown development in 2005.
Beyond the basic allocation of 150 permits, it is expected that
several dozen priority waivers will be approved by the council in
2005 to accommodate Phase V of the Town Green Village. It was
initially thought that, to meet the needs of Work Force Housing
Associates, the council would need to approve additional priority
waivers for 2005. But the developer decided that if 13 allocations
could be freed up that would allow for the building of the model
homes, and that would be sufficient. The council felt that 13
permits would be available within the 150 permits allowed by the
Growth Control Ordinance.
In 2006 and beyond several developers may be ready to proceed
with new projects around town, but existing development agreements
will be winding down. Councilmembers signalled during last
Wednesday’s meeting that the Work Force Housing project will be
given high priority in the years to come.
The development will be created on the Windsor Mill property and
other adjoining parcels – a total of about 20 acres.
According to Elliott, plans call for “more-affordable-by-design”
homes that will be marketed to working class homeowners. “If we’re
successful,” he said, “we’ll be taking cars off of 101.”
There may be as many as five different types of homes in the
project, including residential lofts, duplexes, garden court town
homes, single-family detached homes on small lots and “live/work”
townhomes that incorporate commercial space with dwelling
space.
The development will incorporate higher density along the
railroad and lower density along Windsor Creek. A street will run
alongside the railroad with homes facing onto it from only one
side. Another street will wind along an open space on Windsor
Creek, with homes facing the creek from across the street.
One small park is planned in addition to open space along the
creek and the railroad. A creek crossing will allow for a traffic
connection with the proposed phase II of Windsor Creek subdivision
to the south. A new downtown intermodal transportation complex will
provide ready access to public buses and, perhaps in the future,
trains.
A development agreement for the project must still be approved
by the Planning Commission and then come back to the council for a
final vote.