STARKVILLE – A variance allowing condos’ construction closer to homes on Hancock Circle got the green light from aldermen Tuesday night, despite objections from neighbors who say the closeness will affect their properties.
The board voted 5-2 in favor of granting the variance Tuesday, with Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7 Aldermen Henry Vaughn opposed.
The property sits behind Highway 12’s Quality Inn and Burger King, and it abuts with five residences on Hancock Circle. Aldermen in support of the variance said the housing would be a good use for the commercial property and might shield Hancock Circle from the noise of the highway and hotel tenants.
“This is a commercial property, and this is a better use for it,” Ward 4 Alderman Mike Brooks said. “And it will screen those properties once it gets built. Having been out there on the site today looking at it and seeing the condition, I think this will be a benefit.”
City code typically requires commercial properties to be setback by 50 feet from detached residential properties from the rear and sides and 10 feet from the sides of other kinds of structures. Property co-owners Mark Shapley and Jason Ishee sought a variance to build eight condos within 20 feet of the Hancock Circle residences and to build their parking lot five feet from their neighbors to the south.
The plan would also include a small mixed-use development on South Montgomery Street with ground floor retail or offices and more apartments on the second story. It would intrude on the standard 50-foot setback as well.
The variance was first brought before the board in a Dec. 3 public hearing, which saw several complaints from Hancock Circle abutters.
Neighbors were concerned a development that close would impact their own properties, especially given issues they said they had in the past with rowdy tenants from the hotel.
Police Chief Mark Ballard told the board Tuesday that his department gets an unusually high volume of calls to the Quality Inn.
Since the variance first came before the board, City Planner Daniel Havelin said he’s received two phone calls requesting information on the plan and one to express opposition to the variance.
“From looking at the building layout, I’m not in any kind of way in agreement with them moving closer,” Sandra Edmonds, a resident of Hancock Circle, said Tuesday. “Why can’t they just build where they’re supposed to, like they’re supposed to? …If I wanted to build a house and it didn’t fit on my lot, I’d have to find somewhere else to build it or change the shape of the building.”
The property’s unusual shape is one reason why Shapley and Ishee needed a variance, Havelin said, as the property stretches east from South Montgomery Street in a staggered row most of the way to Hancock Street.
He estimated that flipping the proposed layout would lose four to six units, as well as losing the building’s use as a buffer between Hancock properties and the parking lot.
Shapley did attend Tuesday’s meeting, confirmed that the buildings would be sold, not rented, and would include stipulations against renting in the sale contracts. He also spoke with Edmonds after the meeting to try and reassure her.
Havelin told the board that the rear of the building wouldn’t include patios or walkways, just windows and a flat wall. It would also have a six-foot panel fence, with some landscaping because of existing trees.
Mayor Lynn Spruill said after the meeting that there are still some procedural matters like building permits to be cleared before construction begins, but as far as building codes go, the project is now free to proceed.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
