A new neighborhood is in the works next to Gulley Park in Fayetteville.

City Council members on Tuesday voted 7-0 to approve a planned zoning district for Gulley Grove, a 51-unit subdivision on the west side of Colette Avenue, just off Old Wire Road (see council packet).

Colette is a dead-end street, but developer Clay Morton said the plan is to connect Colette to Magnolia Drive to the south.

The 8-acre neighborhood will include a mix of single-family homes and townhomes that range from 1,300 to 2,500 square feet in size. The district includes three main planning areas. Planning Area 1 will consist mainly of residential detached, single-family homes, Planning Area 2 will include mostly attached and detached units, and Planning Area 3 will be property owner’s association land that will encompass the detention basins, areas of tree preservation, drainage features, and other amenities or open space.

A 1-acre portion of the site is set aside for parkland dedication to Gulley Park, meaning the park will expand a bit on its northeast side. A 6-foot-wide public trail will run through the middle of the neighborhood to help connect the area to Gulley Park. The plans also include about a half acre in the center of the property that has been set aside as a gathering place for the residents.

The homes will be accessed through a combination of streets and alleys. Morton said the homes along Gulley Park will be constructed with two fronts so they will appear to be facing the park. He also said privacy fences won’t be allowed, but instead wrought iron fences will be used in order to create an open, inviting development.

Council member Teresa Turk asked how drainage would be handled if the plan was approved. Morton said stormwater will be routed through pipes and into a retention pond where a farm pond is currently located. From there, the water will be slowly released into existing drainage infrastructure, which will be increased in size at the developer’s cost.

Ward 3 Council Member Sloan Scroggin said he appreciated the applicant bringing the request to the council through a planned zoning district – despite its added cost and risk – to ensure everyone knows what will be built. Council Member Sarah Bunch, also from Ward 3, agreed and said it’s a well-thought-out plan. She said she particularly liked the plan for a pathway through the development that will allow easier access to the park for the surrounding neighbors.

Council Member Sonia Gutierrez said the project sets a good example for how a developer could propose a subdivision next to an established neighborhood. Council Member Kyle Smith agreed, and called it a model project that he hopes will influence other developers in the future. Smith said the project will improve connectivity, and add variety to an existing neighborhood while also integrating well with the area. On top of that, he said, the public will also receive added parks benefits.

During public comment, no one spoke against the proposal.