By John Howell
With a 4 to 1 vote, Batesville aldermen on Tuesday approved a variance that will allow developers of Cottage Creek Subdivision to proceed.

C and S Real Estate owners Dave Smith and Brad (or Brandon) Crumpler in March requested a variance to allow McBride Street to be extended to 830 feet and to end in a cul-de-sac. A city zoning ordinance limits cul-de-sac to streets of 500 feet or less.

The initial request came during a public hearing March 3 and attracted about 20 residents of the Westmoreland Heights subdivision which is adjacent of the Cottage Creek development.
Smith returned to Tuesday’s meeting to seek approval of the variance. He also answered questions about covenant restrictions.

“I was pleased with the set of covenants,” Alderman Eddie Nabors said.

“Another thing that was in the covenants was that they are not going to allow any on-street parking,” Code Administrator Pam Comer said.

“They’re pretty thorough,” assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell said.

Nabors’ motion to approve the variance was conditioned on the covenants remaining substantially unchanged through the preliminary and final plat approval, two steps in the subdivision development that will also require aldermen’s approval.

Aldermen Ted Stewart, Teddy Morrow and Bill Dugger joined Nabors to approve the variance request. Alderman Stan Harrison, whose Ward Three includes the subdivision site, voted against it.