Milton review committee continues work on Scarlet Oaks annexation

Milton’s Special Review Committee is close to wrapping up its work on whether or not to recommend annexing 50 acres of land on Harbeson Road to be built into a 163-unit housing development called Scarlet Oaks.

“We’re in the homestretch,” said Chair John Collier. 

However, Collier said he was also not yet comfortable going forward with a cost/benefit analysis at this time because there are still unanswered questions about the proposed development. Among them are the size of the homes and streets, and additional information on phasing.

Developer The Company Store LLC is planning to begin building at the end of 2023, with a 12-year buildout spread over three phases. The plan is to build 163 units on a parcel across from Mariner Middle School zoned R-1 residential with a large-parcel development overlay. Access to the development would be off Shingle Point Road, and the neighborhood would include a clubhouse and other amenities for residents. The development design is onion-like, with 75 single-family detached houses on the outer perimeter and 88 attached townhouses toward the parcel’s center. The townhomes would be around 2,000 square feet each and the single-family homes 3,000 square feet. 

The committee has been discussing the annexation since December, and previous meetings have included presentations from utilities and emergency services.

“There’s been no one that has said ‘We can’t serve,’” Collier said. 

Referring to Artesian’s recent purchase of Tidewater Environmental Services, owner of the town’s wastewater system, he said, “I feel a little more confident from a wastewater perspective because we’ve got someone who actually looks like they’re going to build a plant instead of talk about and go through all the steps and then not build anything. Between that and the water system, those are the two big things the town has to look at.”

Collier said the committee plans to deliver its report with a cost/benefit analysis to Milton Town Council by the end of the month. 

The committee will hold its next meeting at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 8, at Milton Public Library.