Growth continues at a steady pace in east Limestone County, increasing traffic concerns
LIMESTONE COUNTY — Rapid residential growth continues in east Limestone County. The Limestone County Commission gave preliminary approval for the first phase of one subdivision and an additional phase of another, which combined will add 120 lots.
Proximity to Huntsville, Redstone Arsenal and the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant are contributing factors to increased growth in west Madison and east Limestone County. Madison has been dealing with an explosion of growth for years with new residents moving in for jobs and wanting in be within the Madison City school district.
The Madison City Council recently voted to annex 118 acres near Segers Road and Hardiman Road in Limestone County. The land is planning to be used for a new residential development and a future elementary school for Madison City Schools. The development, being led by Enfinger Development, LLC, will encompass nearly 102 acres and add 200 new homes in Madison.
A few miles from the Madison city limits in Limestone County, the first phase of Sonoma Valley Subdivision will add 80 new lots in District 2. It will be at the southwest corner of Barksdale and Meadows roads.
Davis Preserve phase 1B will add an additional 40 lots to phase 1A, which was previously approved for 20 lots, said Sharon Wilson, county engineering support assistant.
The subdivision will be on the south side of Nick Davis Road, approximately three-quarters of a mile east of the Menefee Road intersection.
Hunter Daws, county engineering project manager, said he believes there will be more phases for both subdivisions.
Danny Barksdale, District 2 commissioner, said the growth is both good and bad.
“It’s always good to grow, but there’ll be some issues that come along with growth,” he said.
According to Barksdale, some of the issues will be “roads, traffic, congestion, schools for those kids, just typical everyday living issues.”
Proximity to Huntsville, Redstone Arsenal and the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant, Barksdale said, are among the reasons for the continued growth in his district. That means potential infrastructure headaches in Madison to accommodate an influx of new travelers along County Lines Road and other main arteries through the city.
Madison residents can have input into a new city plan to address how Madison can best grow.
The City of Madison is planning a kick-off public workshop on Feb 2 starting at 5:30 p.m. at city hall to offer Madison residents an introduction to a comprehensive plan for the city called “Madison on Track 2045”. According to city officials, the workshop will allow residents an insight into the comprehensive planning process, consultant team, project goals and timeline. Attendees will be asked to provide input to help identify community challenges and opportunities through an interactive mapping exercise and discussion. The event will be live-streamed and recorded.
Officials said as a comprehensive plan, Madison on Track 2045 will be a policy document for use by city leaders, developers, business owners, and citizens to make decisions about future growth, development, policy, and capital improvements. “It will serve as a vision for the City, developed by the community, for the community, based on community-wide values and inputs.”
For more information, go to www.madisonontrack2045.com.