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Public hearing on 'Mia Bella' townhomes draws residents and developer debate over density, parking and stormwater
Summary
Council heard a lengthy public hearing on PZ2And2A (Mia Bella), a request to rezone 10.43 acres for 62 attached single‑family dwellings. Planning & Zoning recommended the change after reducing units from 74 to 62 and requiring cluster, parking and public‑space conditions; residents raised density, traffic and stormwater concerns while the property owner and developer urged approval.
The Wildwood City Council opened and then closed a public hearing on July 13 for PZ2And2A, the "Mia Bella" proposal by Lombardo Homes to redevelop approximately 10.43 acres on the north side of Manchester Road into up to 62 attached single‑family dwellings (clusters of up to four units).
Planning & Zoning recommended approval after requiring a reduction in total units (from 74 at an earlier hearing to 62), cluster restrictions (no building cluster greater than four units), and a public‑space component that would provide parking serving Old Pond School, the planning staff said.
Several residents spoke in opposition: Deborah Smith McCutchen raised concerns about higher density and urged the council not to support "luxury villas" at Latitude North 38; Keith Engenthrone (Ward 8, remote) and other commenters called the lot sizes and density too compact. "It amounts to about one‑sixth of an acre for each home... I don't understand the rationale behind trying to squeeze as many homes as possible," Engenthrone said.
Property owner Karen Shannon, who said she owns the 10.5‑acre parcel, urged approval and described financial hardship tied to carrying the land in retirement. Shannon told council she and her late husband paid more than $147,000 in a previous sewer assessment and urged action so she can sell the property and retire.
Doug Nance, the developer's representative, said the applicant had responded to Planning & Zoning by reducing density, adding green space, increasing parking and adding a dog park and pedestrian connections to Old Pond School. He said density would be about six units per acre, under the site’s allowable maximum (about nine units per acre), and that projected sales prices were in the "high $400,000s." Planning staff confirmed the commission required added parking (including a freestanding lot to serve the school) and clustering designed to preserve tree lines as buffers.
Council members pressed staff and the applicant on traffic impacts (noting a Rockwood School District transportation hub nearby with many buses), driveway lengths to prevent garage doors from blocking sidewalks, interior street widths and detention basin design. Staff said a traffic‑impact study will be required and that Lombardo Homes intends to do the study after school resumes to capture realistic bus traffic counts; the proposed interior street width is 26.1 feet, with parking allowed on one side.
Council member Rambo highlighted the project's proposed public parking for Old Pond School as a community benefit and expressed support if the detention basins can be made attractive and functional. The public hearing closed and council will consider the bill to implement the rezoning per the Planning & Zoning recommendation; the ordinance was read later in the meeting as Bill 3072 for first reading.
