Home builders support a minimum 4 new homes per acre in housing developments.

But they moved quickly to oppose other proposed Lexingtion County restrictions on what they do.

Faced with crowded classrooms, congested roads and rising demands on county services, County Council wants wider home setbacks, wider streets and other changes in new housing developments.

Earl McLeod of the Building Industry Association wrote that his group supports a Citizens Advisory Group's recommendations that the county require no wider roads or lot sizes.

McLeod said larger lots will raise home prices and wider roads will increase traffic speeds and hazards.

He said the BIA agreed to increase minimum home setbacks from roads from 10 to 20 feet  – not 30 feet – and wider driveways to keep parked cars off the streets.

Increasing road widths offers no benefits and increases construction costs, drivng up home prices, he wrote.

It also increases potential maintenance costs for the county or homeowners associations if roads are private.

The BIA opposes doubling side yard setbacks to 10 feet as inconsistent with state building codes, could raise housing costs 20% and was unneeded for fire safety, according to research.

"We support a countywide ordinance to allow a maximum of 4 dwelling units per acre," he wrote.

"Efforts to no longer accept residential roads or storm water systems for public ownership should be seriously considered as it would not be equitable for taxpayers living in newer residential communities with private road and stormwater systems and would make housing less affordable."

"Homeowners Associations rely on volunteer boards of directors to manage and care for their entrances and amenities but will likely not have the requisite skills to maintain roadways and storm water systems which not only creates an inequitable financial burden but also serious safety concerns."

The Chronicle forwarded McLeod's letter to County Council members but none have yet responded.