Note: This article was updated Nov. 7, 2006.
Construction of assisted-living condos at University Estates is continuing without Athens City Council approval because its owner failed to turn in the correct preliminary plans before construction began, a city official said.
The independent-living condos, known as the Villas at High Pointe Village, are recorded on file with the county incorrectly. Among other problems, two buildings are being constructed where none is shown on maps on file with the county and a new road for the development exists that also is not on the map, according to information from code enforcement Director Steve Pierson.
Additionally, the construction at University Estates was approved by the state, but does not yet comply with city regulations, Pierson said.
University Estates is an 830-acre development that will include single-family homes, condominiums, a health care center, independent-living and senior housing, an 18-hole golf course, equestrian center, resort hotel and conference center, an office complex and retail center. It is located east of Richland Avenue at 9200 state Route 682. Its owner and president is Richard Conard.
The multiple buildings in a specific area of the assisted-living condos must be authorized with a preliminary Planned Unit Development designation ' a classification that allows construction of multi-purpose buildings in a single area ' from the council.
A request for a preliminary PUD was discussed during an Oct. 19 meeting of the Athens City Planning Commission. The commission members refused to consider the preliminary PUD request until the map of High Point Village is corrected.
Council clerk Deborah Walker estimated it would be at least six to eight weeks before the preliminary PUD would be approved.
Another problem brought to the city's attention is crumbling
rutted roads in the development, said Ron Lucas, director of the Athens city street department. The state of the roads indicate they were not built according to city code specifications, he said.
Conard has hired an engineering company to analyze how badly the roads are deteriorating and what can be done to fix them, Lucas said.
Conard also was charged with a code violation Sept. 26 for exceeding the restricted number of buildings at The Villas at High Pointe Village, said city prosecutor Lisa Eliason. The three buildings currently under construction and a fourth planned building in an area of High Point Village exceed the limitations of a major subdivision the current zoning approval of High Point Village. The minor misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of $500 and the case is still pending.
Conard declined to comment on the charges.
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Rebecca Black
[B]Owner did not submit valid plans, fails to meet regulations, city officials say[/B]
