Tuesday, July 15th, 2014
New subdivision planned for St. Henry
By Kathy Thompson
ST. HENRY - A new housing subdivision will soon be developed for single-family homes on the northeast side of the village.
Council members approved an emergency ordinance Monday night to allow Randy Tumbusch Construction, which purchased six acres of land from Woodlawn Drive to Forest Street, to develop 12, one-half-acre lots, according to village administrator Ron Gelhaus. The area will be known as Walnut Grove Subdivision 2.
"This is great news," Gelhaus said at the meeting. "This is something this village has badly needed."
The village has a little more than 2,400 residents and Gelhaus said new housing has become an issue.
"We just don't have any available lots," Gelhaus said. "People who move here, well they stay. And those few lots we have in the village that are empty, those owners say they are holding on to them for their families. So, this is great."
Five subdivisions with a total of 100 lots have been added in the village the past 10 years, Gelhaus said.
Tumbusch could not be reached for comment.
Council members also passed a first reading on a resolution for property owners on the western side of the village to construct sidewalks or driveway approaches on their property by July 31, 2015.
Nine certified letters have been sent to residents along Westview Avenue south of Main Street and north of Columbus Street, a section on the southside of West Main Street and a section on the northside of Center Street regarding the work, Gelhaus said.
The letter states that the village is dedicated to making a "safer environment" for all residents and pedestrians within the village.
"While we understand there is cost associated with the installation, we also believe there will be an increase in the property value as well," the letter states.
According to Gelhaus, an average cost of the work to be done will be about $6 a square foot.
"If a homeowner has 100 feet of sidewalk to put in, then it will cost about $2,400," Gelhaus said.
If the sidewalks or approaches are not complete by the deadline, Gelhaus said the village will have a contractor do the work and the property owner will be charged on their property taxes.
Owners have the opportunity to come to the next two council meetings to voice concerns. Those meetings are 8 p.m. July 28 and Aug. 11.
