Smithfield OKs more housing near downtown

MITHFIELD — The Town Council on Aug. 20 said yes to an infill project.

This one is small — three homes on 0.38 acres on Massey Street between Sixth and Seventh streets. But it will complement the second phase of Spring Branch Commons, which calls for six homes on 0.8 acres next door.

“It’s a three-lot single-family residential subdivision proposed as an extension of Spring Branch, with matching lot sizes, setbacks, similar but two-story architecture and utilizing the Spring Branch alley for access,” Planning Director Stephen Wensman told the council.

“It’s all private alley providing rear-access lots,” he added.

Council members fretted about the project relying on the Spring Branch alley for access, and they wondered whether to make a signed agreement with Spring Branch a condition of approval.

Wensman thought that was unnecessary, noting that the developer would have no choice but to work with the folks building Spring Branch Commons. “They’re going to have to engage with that landowner because they need access,” he said. “If they don’t engage and come to an agreement, the project’s dead.”

Showing a schematic of the front elevation, the planning director gave the infill project good marks. “You can see they have board and batten, lap siding and shakes, a little more elaborate than Spring Branch,” he said.

Wensman noted that the project was in line with Smithfield’s comprehensive land-use plan. “The comprehensive plan guides this area for medium-density residential with a density of 9.68 units per acre,” he said. “This development will have a density of eight units per acre.”

Each unit will have two parking spaces in back, which is also where residents will keep their trashcans.

The homes will be within walking distance of downtown, Wensman said. He had noted the same about Spring Branch Commons when that project came before the council in 2021.

“It’s really meant to be part of a walkable district into downtown,” he said at the time. “It really supports the downtown community.”

The post Smithfield OKs more housing near downtown first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .