KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Officials discussed a potential development expected for the city at a Monday morning’s Growth Management meeting.

Stephen Hart, an eight-year council member and current vice-mayor, led the proceedings. Rather than a hearing or a trial, the meeting’s function was to facilitate discussion.

The 55-lot Country Meadows development has been in discussion for about a year. Developer Jed Duckro said Century 21 homes is the builder. He reviewed floor plans, landscaping and parking. Due to the nature of the plan, things could change, he said.

Though later in the meeting, Duckro added the starting price could range from $230,000-$250,000, based on the builder.

Duckro was asked at what percentage of homes owned by the homeowner’s association would be the property of the neighborhood. He stressed being personally involved.

“It’s 70%. I will remain on the board until all lots are completed and built out because I have a majority interest in it,” he said.

Committee member Keith Hatch asked about the impact on schools and traffic. The figures are not final, Duckro said, and approximately 100 children at a high estimate could attend area schools if there were two children for each home.

Duckro also said a traffic study is in the works. The a.m. and p.m. peak trips and existing traffic are being analyzed.

“We’re just trying to figure out what the full impact is going to be,” he said.

Hatch approved bringing families to town but said there were infrastructure concerns. He said the development should be done the right way.

“Now, we’re going to bring in 55 new families with new children that are going to infiltrate these schools and put more burdens on our space. I do have some concerns with that,” Hatch said. “But overall, I love to see growth. I love to see new families.”

Committee Member Debbie Beals described the homes as “cookie-cutter” and said potential homeowners want trees and not to be stacked on top of each other. She said people come to Keystone Heights for a reason.

“They want the privacy, that’s the reason they’re moving outside of everything that’s coming,” Beals said.

“We’re going to try to keep as many trees as we can,” Duckro said after he was asked to give a summary of the property’s trees.

Another board member asked for more recreation areas. The development could have better quality and diversity of types of homes, Committee Member Vivian Katz-James said.

“I think a better job could be done on the houses themselves to me,” she said. “The quality of the home matters.”

Talks are ongoing. The development could reach the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee by May 12.

“I just would like to find out what the temperature is,” Duckro said.