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Council to vote on new subdivision near Crowell, CVB contract on Tuesday
Potters Landing pic
The 1.57 acre parcel of land on Hawkeye Avenue next to Crowell Elementary School could soon be home to a new housing subdivision. - photo by KRISTINA HACKER / The Journal

While the community surrounding Crowell Elementary School has been developed for years, nine new homes could be built on Hawkeye Avenue pending the Turlock City Council's approval on Tuesday.
The 1.57 acre property and future subdivision, Potter's Landing, would accomplish the City of Turlock's General Plan intentions of encouraging infill development, in other words developing vacant land in an already urbanized community.
"It's kind of like anti-sprawl is what it is," explained applicant Cary Pope. "We feel like anytime we can do infill and utilize these parcels is good."
Pope said he and his partners held off on the project until now due to the economy.
The property does have a few constraints, however, with a 22-foot public utilities easement running underground. Easements, which house utilities for the City of Turlock, Turlock Irrigation District and PG&E for example, are essentially "no-go zones." In the case of Potter's Landing, the easement "severely limits the ability of the developer to meet City standards and still have developable residential lots" according to the City's report.
To circumvent the issues posed by the easement, if approved, Potter's Landing would be part of a planned development which allows deviations from City development standards unique to that subdivision. These variations include permitting no sidewalks in the subdivision instead of the standard five-foot sidewalk and lengths in the side-yards would vary as well. Decorative fencing and landscaping would be installed along the property line adjacent to Crowell Elementary School. To be approved the Council will also have to rezone the Potter's Landing property to allow a slight increase in density for the low-residential use.
On Tuesday the Turlock City Council is also expected to:
• Vote on a motion to terminate the agreement between the City of Turlock and the Turlock Chamber of Commerce for tourism services through the Convention and Visitors Bureau. If approved, City staff will issue a Request for Proposals for the contract which is responsible for services such as marketing, publication of brochures, newspaper advertisements, participation in trade shows and more to promote the city.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of City Hall, 156 S. Broadway, Turlock.