Last August town council approved a two-phase plan for the Salem Village subdivision located just off of Tingen Road.

The first phase of the plan called for 101 single family homes built on lots that average 12,850 square feet.

Almost exactly one year later, the developers have requested more houses and smaller lots and, despite voicing some objections, council voted 3-2 last week in favor of the changes.

The first phase of Salem Village will now contain 136 homes with an average lot size of 9,175 square feet. The new plan increases the density of houses from 1.64 per acre to 2.2 per acre.

A representative for the developers claimed the changes, which meet the town’s development ordinances, are needed because the smaller lots are more marketable during the current economic climate. Councilman Bill Jensen was troubled by the changes and said Apex needs bigger houses not smaller ones.

“We approved this last year and now were down 30 percent in lot size,” said Jensen. “I know people who have left Apex because they can’t step up in housing (size).”

“I agree with you, Bill,” said Councilman Gene Schulze. “But it meets the rules and you have to change with the times.”

Councilman Bryan Gossage said council was taking a more myopic view of the plan than it did last year.

“What concerns me is when we approved it the first time we were looking at the big picture,” said Gossage. “Now we are taking a narrower view. I’m trying to picture how the conversation would have gone a year ago.”

Mayor Keith Weatherly said he would normally have concerns about such changes but “not during these current economic times.”

Jensen said he would like the developer to make a compromise and lessen the density in the second phase of the project.

“I would like to hear from the developer,” said Jensen. “I’m more than happy to work with the developer. These are bad times but I’d like to see some type of compromise.”

But rather than delay a vote until a future meeting when the developers could attend council proceeded with the vote. Both Jensen and Bill Sutton voted against the changes while Gossage, Schulze and Mike Jones voted in favor. Public hearing postponed

The first public hearing for rezoning 1,011 acres of land for the Veridea project was continued until Sept. 15.

The hearing was delayed since the Apex Planning Board did not review the rezoning request at their Aug. 10 meeting.