DAPHNE, Ala.— Developers of the Dunmore subdivision have had a hard time selling the larger lots originally planned for development, a spokesperson associated with the project said.

“We all know the economic climate is driving some of this but what we are asking for is the undeveloped property of Dunmore is all along the south boundary. The original master plan had 100-foot lots and 90-foot lots in that area. As development has gone on, there is still a lot of 100-foot lots and 90-foot lots that were in the original phase one that have not been sold and are just sitting there,” Joel Coleman, representative for the development, said.

The developer has been able to sell smaller lots since the economy has taken a downturn.

“The original plan that was submitted was prior to zoning. They also had quite a few that were in the 14,000-foot range. We had to re-lay out the site to adhere with zoning. It is basically the same thing but we lost three or four lots in the process,” Coleman said.

The new smaller lots will be placed in the back of the property, separated from the rest of the development by a 50-foot buffer.

The commission discussed the possible ramifications of the revised master plan.

Mayor Fred Small was concerned that the buffer zone would become a nightmare for residents later when the developer is out of the process.

Small proposed that common areas, like the proposed buffer zone, be handed over to the city when the developer leaves; they would be used as a city park or common area and maintained by the city.

The development is on the east side of Alabama Highway 181 south of Austin Road and north of Dick Higbee Road.

In 2007, the original master plan was approved, which included a proposal of 303 lots with varying zoning designations throughout the subdivision. The revision before the commission decreases the number of parcels zoned R-1 and R-2, but increases the number of lots zoned R-3 and R-4.

The subdivision’s overall density will change from 1.83 units per acre to 2.066 units per acre.