By Cain Madden

VIDALIA — The Town of Vidalia recently annexed the new Cypress Pointe subdivision into the town limits.

Developer Ricky Knapp said the main hold up is legal lot descriptions. The 7.5-acre subdivision has a total of 11 lots.

The entrance of the subdivision is located between 1202 and 1204 Concordia Ave., not far from the corner of Elm Street. Knapp said within a month he hopes to be breaking ground on his own house and other interested residents are welcome.

“People are talking about building some nice homes, and we are going to make sure there is nothing but other nice homes around them,” Knapp said. “We are planning on doing it first class.”

Once the weather dries, Knapp said he also plans to do some landscaping in the two green spaces, one at the entrance and the other in the center of the cul-de-sac.

Knapp said he thinks once the subdivision is complete it will be something in which the whole town can take pride.

“We already have people going in there walking and exercising,” Knapp said. “We have kids in there riding their bicycles. It’s a dead end street with hardly any traffic on it so it’s a good place to walk.

“We are also real excited about the mature trees that are already there, and we are doing all we can to save them.”

During a public hearing before annexation, residents had two concerns — fire protection and drainage.

Vidalia Fire Chief Johnny Evans said a fire truck would have no problem maneuvering on the street in the event of an emergency.

Bryant Hammett and Associates Engineer Keith Capdepon said they inspected the property for drainage and the lots provide a straight shot to the canal.

“I don’t see any issues,” Capdepon said.

Knapp said the subdivision is not within the flood zone so buyers would not have to worry about additional insurance.

Vidalia Alderwoman Sabrina Doré said she walked the neighborhood and thought it was beautiful. She asked about the gated off area and wondered if a future development was planned.

Knapp said he had no plan to expand the subdivision, but that he did leave it open for future developers. Knapp said developers could not connect the subdivision to Carter Street, but that they could potentially circle back to Elm Street.

Town aldermen unanimously annexed the property.

“It is very nice,” Mayor Buz Craft said. “It is a nice addition to the town.”