Fewer lots, more greenspace planned in local development

One of North Clinton’s newest housing developments is reducing the number of lots to avoid having to mitigate the impact on wetlands in the subdivision.   The Board of Aldermen on July 7 approved a revision to the Horseshoe Bend plat to eliminate 36 lots.

Donald McDonald with H D Lang and Associates, engineers and surveyors for the project on Pinehaven Drive, says, “It’s more cost-effective to stay out of the wetlands and lose a few lots.”

But McDonald says money isn’t the only issue that would be involved in replacing the lost wetlands.

“[It’s] the cost and the headache of dealing with the Corps of Engineers and the other jurisdictional bodies. They’re tough.”

According to the City of Clinton, Bruce Kirkland is the registered agent for Horseshoe Bend of Clinton, LLC.

The Corps’ website says, “The Regulatory program is committed to protecting the nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities that occur in the nation’s waters, including wetlands. The Corps’ regulatory personnel ensure that any environmental impact on aquatic resources from these construction activities is avoided, minimized or mitigated.”

With the Horseshoe Bend developers choosing to avoid the wetlands by reconfiguring their lot layout, they won’t have to undertake mitigation efforts, which could include creating new wetlands or restoring or enhancing existing wetlands.  And the decision means the development will have additional greenspace where houses were originally planned.

The first phase of the subdivision is almost finished, and the second phase will include 62 lots immediately to the west of the existing homes.