Chalybeate residents opposed to a low-income housing development proposed for their community have engaged in another meeting with the developer, who seems receptive to their concerns.

Teresa Terrace, a development of 12 duplex buildings housing 24 units, has been proposed for construction on 15.5 acres of a 40-acre tract of land off Bledsoe Road owned by Garry Watkins, president of Wabuck Development Co. in Leitchfield.

Over the past month, residents who live near the development site have taken part in a series of meetings at the Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department, mounting a campaign against the development.

Among the reasons people have opposed the development are concerns that the low-income housing units are not a good fit for an area that has seen the construction of new, relatively upscale subdivisions in the past decade.

Also, neighbors worry that Teresa Terrace would contribute to overcrowding at South Edmonson Elementary School and that Bledsoe Road would be unable to handle additional traffic brought by the new development.

At a meeting last month with Watkins, several residents said they were frustrated about not being notified in advance of Watkins’ plans for the property.

An applicant looking to live in a one-person household in Teresa Terrace cannot have an annual income greater than $22,638 at the time of application.

Last week, the Chalybeate group formed a five-person steering committee to research ways to prevent the development from taking place or, failing that, avoid a similar scenario from occurring in the future.

Committee member Carlton Alexander said that another member has met recently with Watkins, who will review whether the plan can be altered.

“I think (Watkins is) willing to hear us out,” Alexander said. “He’s willing to find out what his options are and has asked for some time so he can find out how far into this thing he is.”

Last month, Watkins told neighbors that he was at the “point of no return” with regard to the money he has invested in the project.

Reached Wednesday, Watkins said that in addition to the company’s investment, he has received tax credits from the Kentucky Housing Corp., grant funding through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and financing from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati for Teresa Terrace.

Clayton Watkins Construction of Leitchfield is the contractor on the project.

Watkins acknowledged the concerns the Chalybeate group expressed and has continued discussions with representatives of their groups as well as Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed and 1st District Magistrate Arnold Graham on the project.

“We’re in kind of a discovery type of mode to see what, if anything, can be done that would allow me to keep the commitments I’ve made while coming up with something possibly appeasing to the community,” Watkins said. “I’ve got an obligation to do what I said I’d do. If that can be accomplished in another way, we’re going to see if I can do what I said I would do.”

The county has no zoning regulations in place, but a planning commission does review plats for new construction.

Alexander said that the commission has not reviewed documents involving Teresa Terrace and that a few Chalybeate residents and committee members will attend the next planning commission meeting, scheduled for Oct. 9.

“There are some important issues we want addressed that we believe the planning board needs to look at,” Alexander said.

In the meantime, the steering committee, acting on behalf of the group of Chalybeate residents opposed to the development, have filed an open records request with the Kentucky Housing Corp. to review the paperwork submitted by Watkins on his grant application.

Alexander said the group has also contacted three attorneys on the matter but have not retained one at this point.

The group, which had been meeting weekly, does not plan to meet again until Oct. 14.

“Everybody was more optimistic (Tuesday) that something will be resolved favorably,” Alexander said.