JACKSON – The Jackson Zoning Board of Adjustment has unanimously approved an application that proposed the construction of 16 single-family homes on a 48-acre tract in the Cassville section of the municipality.
Attorney Benjamin Mabie and engineer Matt Wilder represented the applicant, Pushkin Estates LLC, at the zoning board’s Sept. 6 meeting.
Pushkin Estates was before the board seeking preliminary and final major subdivision approval to create 19 lots for 16 homes, one open space lot and two storm water management lots. Those approvals were granted on Sept. 6.
The Pushkin Estates application had previously received a use variance, according to the board’s agenda.
Seven custom homes were proposed on Pushkin Lane and nine custom homes were proposed on Sunnybrook Road.
Although the property totals 48 acres, the homes will be built on 23 acres on Pushkin Lane and Sunnybrook Road, according to testimony that was presented to the board.
The applicant said this “clustering” of the homes means 25 acres of the parcel will remain undeveloped and will be dedicated to Jackson as open space.
Testimony indicated that 13 acres of woods will be cleared in order to construct the 16 homes. Lot sizes for the homes will range from about 1 acre to about 1.4 acres, according to the applicant.
At the Sept. 6 meeting, the professionals representing Pushkin Estates said they had incorporated suggestions board members made about the application during a meeting in July. The homes on Sunnybrook Road will now have an 80-foot setback from the road and gravel driveways.
“The drainage systems have been designed as if the driveways were paved,” Wilder said, explaining that this decision by the applicant will help prevent possible complications if a homeowner eventually wants to pave his driveway.
Board members Carl Book, Peter Maher, Anthony Marano, Kathryn McIlhinney, Peter Kitay, John Suttles and Vice Chairman Sheldon Hofstein voted to approve the Pushkin Estates application.