By Dave Vieser. Classica Homes, the builder behind Robbins Park, plans 27 upscale homes on former farmland on Washam Potts Road. The Charlotte-based builder will seek conditional zoning for 7.32 acres a short distance from Westmoreland Road.
The development, to be called Washam Potts Reserve, is subject to approval from the Cornelius Planning Board and the Board of Commissioners. A community information meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 in Cornelius Town Hall to discuss the relatively small project. Robbins Park has more than 152 homes.
The single-family residences will be between 2,800 square feet and 3,200 square feet, with three bedrooms and a pricetag around $500,000. “We believe the development will fit nicely into this residential neighborhood, with plenty of open space. It also complies with the town’s land use plan,” said Rich Jasinksi, of Classica Homes.
The density for the project is slightly under four homes per acre. Jasinski said the homes would be designed to fill a need in the region “which has a significant lack of single-story ranch-style, age-sensitive structures.”
Increasingly, new development in Cornelius consists of infill projects, with higher-priced homes on smaller lots. The days of enormous new neighborhoods like Oakhurst and Heritage Green are drawing to a close.
The property adjoins a now vacant but historic home at 9910 Washam-Potts Road. Town Planner Wayne Herron says the Craftsman-style bungalow, a preeminent example of an early-20th century farmhouse, will not be affected by the new development. It is owned by a member of the Potts family, well-known for farming in and around Cornelius for hundreds of years.
If the town grants approval, Classica expects to begin site preparation work in late fall, and begin building in early 2018. Jasinski estimates it will take about two years for a full buildout.
Public hearings are tentatively scheduled for Monday March 13 before the Planning Board, and Monday April 3 before the Town Board.
Classica is also building single-family homes at Jetton Place, behind the Harris Teeter on Old Jetton Road.
