Developers propose 18‑lot 'Villa Riva' subdivision at 180 Highland Village Road

Terry Cook, a principal with Cook Development, told the Highlands City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission that his team is proposing Villa Riva, an 18‑lot single‑family subdivision on a roughly 6‑acre parcel at 180 Highland Village Road. The concept would change the property from SF‑12 zoning to an SF‑8 plan‑development overlay and includes a mix of lot sizes designed to preserve existing trees and work around an identified 537 flood line.

Cook said the layout ranges from lots of about 7,200 square feet up to a 32,000‑square‑foot lot, with most parcels in the 7,500–8,000‑square‑foot range. He described development standards under consideration—a minimum dwelling size of about 2,500 square feet, a 35‑foot maximum height and 20‑foot front yard setbacks—and said the developer plans to offer multiple house configurations, including optional 0‑lot‑line designs and rear garages. “We want to create homes for families,” Cook said, adding that the homes would be custom rather than mass‑produced and that the team would work with local builders.

The presentation prompted questions from commissioners and residents about floodplain limits, tree preservation, utilities capacity and neighborhood compatibility. City staff and commissioners urged the developers to pursue preliminary engineering and additional outreach before submitting final plats.