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Development west of Gaylord’s stormwater pond hit another snag Wednesday as council members said no to a revised plan for the adjacent property.

Too crowded and not the right spot for such a development. Those were among the reasons council members gave for rejecting the revised plat design which included similar size homes, but smaller lots than originally planned. The plan did not comply with the City’s general zoning requirements, according to City Administrator Lonny Johnson.

Four years ago, Meadow Wood Builders purchased the 15-acre parcel of land from the City for approximately $31,000. According to the agreement, Meadow Wood Builders was to construct not less than two homes on the property in 2003 and at all times thereafter maintain at least two homes substantially complete or under construction and available for sale until all the lots were filled.

Because the City feels that agreement has not been satisfied, it has been working with Meadow Wood Builders on an alternative plan.

In recent months, Meadow Wood Builders representative Jeff Hennon has proposed a new plan which includes smaller lot sizes and narrower streets. According to Hennon, there isn’t a market in Gaylord for the housing originally planned for the property. “We haven’t been able to move the homes,” Hennon told council members.

Lot sizes would be smaller, but homes would be the same size of those already built in the development. There would still be “market rate” lots, Hennon said. Homes would carry price tags in the range of $150,000 to $185,000, Hennon explained. Larger lots were also part of the plan.

In conjunction with the revised plans, Meadow Wood Builders was going to participate in a government program for the development of the property. According to City Administrator Johnson, the program assists low income individuals in acquiring home ownership through financial incentives.

According to Johnson, the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved Meadow Wood Builders’ revised final plat design. Last month, a committee established by Johnson, also recommended approval. That committee consisted of Johnson, council members Brenda Pautsch and Jessica Uecker, and Planning and Zoning members Orlin Grack and Marilyn Bratsch.

Johnson, at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, reported that the committee recommended moving forward with the plans. He also researched a similar development in St. Peter which he described as “very successful” for that City.

According to Pautsch, the committee couldn’t come up with a rational reason smaller homes shouldn’t be built in the development. She supported the plan last month stating that she has been waiting for a program like this to come to Gaylord for several years.

Pautsch did not vote on the issue as she was running the meeting in the absence of Mayor Doug Quast. Council member Pat Pinske motioned to deny the final plat. Council members Uecker and Carl Wetzel supported that decision while Dale Breuer was opposed.

According to Uecker, citizens in Gaylord believe the area should have “more premier housing” than what was being proposed.

Wetzel agreed with Uecker, citing that Gaylord’s comprehensive plan called for more premier housing in this area. “It’s not the right place for this type of housing,” Wetzel said.

Wetzel also expressed concern about people who have already purchased homes in the development and what might happen to their property value.

Shaun Pomplun, who purchased a home in the development in 2005, told council members Wednesday that he felt a revised plan would be unfair. Pomplun assumed the yards would be certain sizes and the houses “not jam packed” when purchasing his home. He suggested the City explore other areas in town for this type of development.

According to Johnson, Meadow Wood Builders wants to continue developing this parcel of land because it has already invested money in infrastructure. Johnson said Hennon has contacted the City since his proposal was rejected. Hennon is planning to contact the City Attorney regarding the possibility of reconsidering his proposal, Johnson explained.