Subdivision next to Valley of the Eagles approved by Planning Commission

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct Carol Hobert's name. More than two years after its initial approval, a proposed residential subdivision near the Valley of the Eagles golf course in Elyria has received approval for a preliminary subdivision plan and variance needed to move forward on the project. Last week, the Elyria Planning Commission approved two variances for the proposed Villas of the Valley housing development, as long as the project developers meet conditions placed by the commission. Villas of the Valley is a proposed 190-home development to be built off Gulf Road next to and behind the existing golf course. After the initial plan was rejected due to flooding concerns, the Planning Commission approved an updated subdivision plan for the project in May 2024, but construction never went forward. On July 7, Valley of the Eagles owner Janet Wang went before the commission to request the variances, and promised that the project would meet all conditions placed on it by the city. The main concern expressed by city officials was about additional traffic on Gulf Road that would be created by both the construction and the eventual new residents of the subdivision. Planning Commission approved the subdivision plan on the condition that Villas of the Valley Development LLC construct a turning lane on Gulf Road to alleviate traffic before construction begins. During a public hearing on the proposal, resident Carol Hobert said that the hill on Gulf Road was already unsafe and building the development without a turning lane would only add to that problem. "I am not opposed to this (project), but before anything gets done I just feel like road safety needs to be first. I have lived here my entire life, that hill is dangerous," Hobertsaid during a public hearing at the meeting. "You can't just not put a turning lane or not put something because people are used to going down that hill and just going. … I just feel like the roads have to be done first." Wang promised that the developers planned to construct the turning lane as construction began, and that the plan also included a fire access road that had been requested by the Elyria Fire Department. "It is our intention to have the turning lane constructed while the houses are being built, but we are not asking for the first 80 homes to be built at this point before the turning lane is installed," Wang said. "We are just asking for the fire access road to be built first so that, if necessary, we can divert some of the traffic using the fire access road when the turning lane is being built, so that way we can keep the golf course open." Elyria Fire Marshal William Gall, who is a nonvoting member of the Planning Commission, asked that the developers also produce drawings showing how the department's largest vehicle, Ladder Truck 8, could navigate the development. In addition to the subdivision plan, the commission approved a variance allowing the development to exceed the city's limit for driveway coverage. Under city codes, driveways must not exceed 40 percent or 20 feet coverage of a lot's frontage, and Villas of the Valley's plans exceed that limit at several planned properties. City Planner Chris Schoenig recommended the approval of the variance, and the commission voted to grant it. Additionally, the commission also ordered that Villas of the Valley complete its lot splitting and consolidation work on the project before it submits its final plat, the detailed final map of a subdivision. Mayor Kevin Brubaker said that the approvals made by Planning Commission last week are final and do not require approval of City Council. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.