Ballenger planned along Hollymount Road

The Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission recently heard plans for Ballenger, a cluster subdivision on 53.5 acres on the east side of Hollymount Road between Beaver Dam Road and Route 24.

The preliminary plan includes 106 single-family home lots, with a recreation area in the southern portion of the property including a clubhouse, pool and tot lot. A walking trail and sidewalks are planned throughout the community. Amenities must be completed on or before the issuance of the 53rd certificate of occupancy.

During the Dec. 14 meeting, attorney Jim Fuqua, representing developer Ribera Development in Millersville, Md., said the parcel is located in a low-density AR-1 area as defined by the county's comprehensive plan where single-family houses are permitted.

Fuqua said lots would average 7,514 to 16,144 square feet, with the average at 8,555 square feet.

The attorney said a traffic impact study was not required, but the developer would be required to contribute funding to an area-wide traffic study.

The developer would also be required to improve the property's frontage along Hollymount Road to meet state standards.

Fuqua said the proposed project includes a 50-foot buffer along farmlands, a 30-foot buffer along wooded areas and a 20-foot perimeter buffer on all other lands, including a landscaped buffer along Hollymount Road.

He said 16.44 acres of existing woods would be removed from the 29.5 acres of woods on the entire parcel.

The plan includes 28 acres of open space, or 52% of the site, with more than 30% contiguous tracts adjacent to farmlands and woodlands.

The property borders the existing River Oaks and River Wood subdivisions. “This is in character with other uses in the area,” Fuqua said.

The commission deferred a vote to a future meeting.