The Athens Planning Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a layout plan for a 66-lot subdivision southwest of the intersection of U.S. 72 and McCulley Mill Road.

H.R. Horton hopes to build the residential subdivision, should it receive final plat approval from the Planning Commission, said Lee Farrell, intern surveyor for Garner.

The plan was submitted by the Belle Mina Land Co. LLC. The major subdivision consists of two tracts located within the corporate limits of Athens and in a B-2 Highway Business District and R-1-3 High-Density Single-Family Residential District.

Public Works Director James Rich said the front two lots are zoned B-2 and the rest are R-1-3.

He said the conceptual plan calls for building the Belle Mina Subdivision in two phases. There would be access off 72 and four to five different cul de sacs within the development that would give sanitation and other trucks room to turn around.

The city would require setbacks of 20 feet in front and behind each home and 8 feet on each side, he said.

Rich said the property drains south and storm water would be held in the southeast quadrant of the development. Sewer is available by Limestone CountyWater and Sewer Authority through the city of Huntsville. Water is available through LCWSA and will have to meet fire-flow requirements in the fire code to ensure flow to hydrants.

The subdivision would be built within the Athens City Schools district.

Chairwoman Gina Garth asked Rich what kind of homes could be built on the lots.

“We can’t dictate the size of the houses, just the setback,” he said.

Rich said the plan calls for triple buffering between residential and commercial development in the area.

Commissioner Rod Huffman pointed out that the plan includes only one detention pond. He asked Rich whether he believes the drainage plan will prevent problems.

Rich said the size of the contours and the detention basin are all calculated and the contours are the way the water goes. He said commissioners would receive more details about the proposed subdivision at its September or October meeting but, for now, his staff recommends approval of the initial layout plan.

Huffman said approval of the layout plan is really an “advisory to the developer to move ahead with his plan.” It does not mean the commission won’t have requests or requirements for the developer later in the process, he said.

The next step is preliminary plat approval.