By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — A developer presented the Trussville City Council with plans for a new subdivision during a work session on Thursday, May 24, 2019.
The property is between the Windsong subdivision and Bethune Parkway. The land is already zoned for R2, so no rezoning would be required in the development of the property. It was zoned in 2007 for a similar project, but that project was put on hold after the recession.
The landowner has been working with D.R. Horton construction company on the proposal for the property.
Rhett Loveman, with D.R. Horton, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed subdivision. The company plans to use its Emerald Home line, which includes high-end finishes and landscaping.
“These are typically families,” Loveman said. “They are seeking top-rated schools for their children. We have successfully built other Emerald product in the metro area.”
Other Emerald properties by D.R. Horton are in Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Birmingham.
There would be no front-loading garages, shed roofs are in the designs and materials on the homes would be brick, siding, hardy board or stone. Loveman said his company prefers to mix up the looks of the homes so no two houses look the same.
“We try to mix up the streetscape, people seem to like it better, instead of having ‘all this’ or ‘all that’ you can mix it,” said Loveman.
The name of the proposed development is Trussville Preserve. The community would have a grand entrance with a water feature, timbers and stone. Other amenities would include a playground, a swimming pool, a pavilion and a fire pit. There would be nature trails going from the community area down to a small lake that sits on the property.
The property was clear-cut about a year ago, according to Loveman.
“We tried to preserve as much as we could to earn the name ‘Trussville Preserve,’” Loveman said. “So, you can see that instead of having the road just go straight through the property, we wanted to preserve the natural beauty of it, and so we did a meandering road that connects Windsong and also connects Bethune.”
The developer also plans to pre-plant trees throughout the subdivision.
The Trussville Preserve would have around 219 homes with an average square footage of 2,400 square feet. There would be about 25 feet between the homes. The average acreage per lot is .70 acre.
City council member Perry Cook voiced his concerns about the proposal.
“I am just going to speak from my standpoint,” Cook said. “I live in Stockton and 219 houses back there is not going to make me happy, nor am I a fan of D.R. Horton’s products.”
Cook said he hasn’t been pleased with materials used in past developments built by D.R. Horton.
Council President Jef Freeman said as a member of Planning and Zoning, he feels D.R. Horton has not been honest with work done in Trussville in the past.
“It was presented in Planning and Zoning that they were going to do Winslow Park and they presented the plan that is the showcased house when you drive in,” Freeman said. “Then you go one down and they put brick on the front and two sides that just don’t look good.
“I mean, it just doesn’t look good. It doesn’t look good from the street, it just doesn’t look good. To me, as a member of Planning and Zoning, I felt deceived and I have had complaints from the citizens around there.”
Loveman said his company uses the same materials and vendors as other developers. He said Emerald Homes is the highest-quality brand of D.R. Horton and that there has never been an Emerald development in Trussville.
The developer and landowner presented the plans to the council as a courtesy. The council will not be making a decision on the development at this time. D.R. Horton will have to present other plans to other city entities. They believe the building of homes will begin in about 18 months.