Developer pulls plug on Helena green space reduction proposal
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 24, 2006
A local developer has stopped his request to decrease the size of a green space beside Shelby County 52 and Falliston subdivision.
Steve Mobley, of Mobley Development, changed his mind about a proposal that would decrease the amount of space between Falliston homes and a new Walgreens drug store he is looking to build after hearing a large number of complaints from local residents.
The plan would have reduced a 20-foot buffer by 6 to 12 feet, Mobley said.
Mobley said the reduction was necessary to plan for the widening of Shelby County 52 in the future.
Shelby County officials, despite having completed an environmental study for widening the county road, said there is still no funding for the lengthy project &045; leaving the possibility for any expansion a long way off.
Resident opposed the proposal, however, citing the fact that with the decreased buffer the Walgreen&8217;s parking lot would run within eight feet of a number of home lots.
Mobley said he plans to go forward with construction of the new drug store, and is awaiting approval under city regulations.
The developer&8217;s next step would be to present its preliminary plan to the Helena planning and zoning board at a future meeting