Developer building apartments at Bricker Farms

A developer from Hartville plans to build six three-unit apartment buildings in the Bricker Farms area and extend West View Drive from 15th Street to Meadow View Drive which connects to Orchard Bend Drive.

Mayor John Berlin said Kevin Price and his son approached the city earlier this year looking for areas already zoned multiple family for construction of an apartment complex. The Bricker Farms area was suggested because the zoning was already in place, the area had been planned for development and sewer lines were already there.

The city Planning Commission met Monday and approved the preliminary plat for Bricker Farms Plat No. 6 consisting of six lots, a 60-foot right-of-way named West View Drive running 797 feet from its terminus to West 15th Street, sanitary sewer, water line, storm sewers and water detention area.

According to the meeting agenda, the plat was part of the overall development plan of the Bricker Farms subdivision located between Shady Lane and North Ellsworth Avenue and Orchard Bend Drive and West 15th Street in the city. Price attended the meeting and talked about the project.

Berlin said he has already purchased the property for the development and plans to install 797 feet of street and install a water line. The area already has sewer service available.

A three-unit apartment complex will be built on each of the six lots for a total of 18 units which will be rented at market rate, according to the mayor. Two of the units on each lot will have two bedrooms, one bath and a single-car garage and a third unit on each lot will have three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.

Berlin said he's starting with this area, but there is another area near there that he also plans to develop in the future.

"It's nice to see somebody putting an investment into town," he said, noting it's not in a Tax Increment Financing zone and the developer didn't ask for any special deals or tax breaks.

Berlin likened it to the days when people had land and wanted to develop it, paying for the streets and utilities themselves. He said it's something he hasn't seen in Salem for a long time.

"I'm very happy for him and for the city to have the development. Maybe some new people will move in," he said.

The development will include curbs, sidewalks and Street Lighting, too. He said Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart attended the meeting to ensure the plan included the proper size of water main, with an 8-inch main to be installed.

Planning & Zoning Officer Patrick Morrissey said the next step will be submission of the construction drawings, which will have to be reviewed by an engineer, then construction of a street which meets the requirements and submission of the final plat for approval by the city Planning Commission. No action is required by city council.

Berlin said Price has also developed an apartment complex outside of Damascus and one in nearby Alliance in this area.