Prime development property on Langford Lake will temporarily become a business park.
Langford gave the OK for Turner Lane Development Corp. to use 9.8 acres wedged between Langford Lake, the E&N rail line and Kettle Creek Station as a business park while its larger development plan unfolds.
The property, called Landing on Langford Lake, is planned for about 350 residential units spread through homes, townhomes and condominiums. The waterfront portion of the property has been given to Langford as parkland.
Langford’s planning committee approved a temporary use permit for the property to house storage, light manufacturing and mechanic workshops in warehouse type buildings. Council needs to approve the permit.
Turner Lane president Les Bjola said planning for Landing on Langford Lake is still going forward in terms of looking different configurations of homes.
“No matter what, development takes time. Nine acres is a big project. It’s not going to happen fast,” Bjola said. “We are looking to generate revenue to pay property taxes.”
Bjola said the temporary business park will be similar to the existing business park in the Goldstream Meadows area on West Shore Parkway. “It’s nothing fancy,” he said.
Rachael Sansom of Turner Lane said people have inquired about storing RVs or other large vehicles on the Landing property. “The land is worth a ton,” she said, making any business park a short-term venture.
“It’s not going to be broken down old cars,” she said. “Certainly it won’t be a ton of money, but every bit of revenue helps.”
Meanwhile, nearby Kettle Creek Station, also developed by Turner Lane, is ticking along with its small homes project, 128 so far. Built-to-order, another 10 are under construction. “The small houses are popular. They’ve done well,” Sansom said.
Kettle Creek is ultimately planned for about 300 homes and several hundred condominiums, but its unlikely the condo phase will break ground anytime soon.
“There’s a lot of multifamily units sitting around (the region),” she said. “We don’t need to build (condos) just to give them away.”