Twenty-one modest, single-family homes ranging in size from 1,257 to 1,900 square feet will go up at 14561 Winchester Blvd., a decision that came following a split vote from the town council.

Mayor Sandy Decker and Councilman Mike Wasserman, who cast the two dissenting votes, objected to the lack of open space in the plans.

Concerned that the designs only provided for 4-foot setbacks, Wasserman asked the applicant, Classic Communities Vice President Scott Ward, to consider reducing the number of homes to 20 to allow greater distance between the buildings. While Wasserman applauded the applicant's efforts to provide affordable housing, he also wanted families purchasing the homes "to be happy with what they can afford."

Councilman Joe Pirzynski, who made the motion to approve the 21 homes, did not think it necessary to eliminate one home, however. The remaining two council members shared his opinion.

"Were the neighbors displeased, we would have heard this very vocally, and we did not," said Vice Mayor Steve Glickman.

According to Community Development Director Bud Lortz, the 4-foot setbacks are the same as those in the town's historical Almond Grove District. "Those setbacks have functioned well for those residents," he said.

Classic Communities Inc. had received unanimous approval from the town's planning commission, as well as support from a number of residents near the project site, including Guy LaMar, whose grandfather had purchased the property in 1912.

"This project touches us like no other," LaMar said of the court-style designs, which his family "is quite excited about."

Meanwhile, Henning Court resident Eddie Wong voiced concerns over the small setbacks, cited potential parking problems and asked that Classic Communities extend a masonry wall lining his property.

Ward agreed to work with Wong to extend the masonry wall. He also noted that the project had allocated space for 90 cars even though they were only required to provide 54 parking spaces.

Community benefits of the project cited by Ward include the preservation of a historic water tower and farmhouse, a promise to sell two of the homes at below market rate and to contribute $52,500 to the town's below­market price fund, and the addition of an on-site park and housing near a future transit line. Additionally, Classic Communities will give residents a one-year EcoPass to ride the bus and light rail for free to promote future use of public transit.

"What I really like about this is that it does expand our inventory of the number of single-family homes below 2,000 square feet. I don't look at this as adding traffic; I look at it as adding some homes for some 40 or 50 or 60 people," said Councilwoman Diane McNutt.

But whereas McNutt, whose own home features 4-foot setbacks, characterized the project as providing "very livable homes," Mayor Decker said she wanted to see the houses be more "family livable" and could not encourage "such dense living."

Because giving the go-ahead for the project included approval of a zone change from a low- to medium-density residential area for a planned development (PD), Decker reminded the council that the town should only grant a PD for excellent design.

"We do relax standards, but for that we expect the community gets the very best," she said.

The council voted 3-2 to approve Classic Communities' plans.