The development of new housing in Mexico continues with the Bellray subdivision. 

The Mexico City Council passed two ordinances regarding the subdivision — approving the final plat and accepting the sanitary sewer improvements into the city’s sanitary sewer collection system — at its Sept. 28 meeting. Although he has no personal financial interest in Bell-Ray Investments LLC, Mexico City Council member Ron Ray, abstained from voting because his son, Logan Ray has a stake in the company.

Fourteen new homes will be constructed in the subdivision located along Friendship Drive between Christopher Road and Country Place Court.

The original sketch plan for Bellray was approved by the Mexico City Council during its Dec. 22, 2024 meeting. 

Since then, only a few minor changes to the lot orientation have been made, according to the council agenda memo submitted by Drew Williford, deputy city manager. These changes include changes to driveway locations made due to power line locations. All changes to the original sketch plan were approved administratively. 

The final plat was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission during its Sept. 22 meeting. Authorization of the final plat was postponed until all of the infrastructure, which now includes the construction of a new sanitary sewer system, was complete. 

“That’s somewhat of the city’s ability to make sure that the process continues in accordance with city specifications and documents,” Williford said. 

Full public utilities are available in the area. However, the developer, Bell-Ray Investments LLC, chose to install a new sanitary sewer main, rather than making multiple street cuts to connect individual services. Approximately 540 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer main and three manholes were constructed as part of the project. 

Williford said one of the challenges accessing the existing infrastructure was due to its depth. Many of the city’s sewer lines are roughly 6 or 7 feet underground, but in that particular area, sewer mains are 13 feet deep or more. 

“When the sketch plan was actually brought before council, it was still somewhat in the air, but the developer did elect to proceed with installing a new sanitary sewer main,” Williford said. 

He added that the new construction passed inspection and all testing has been completed. The sewer extension will be owned and maintained by the city. 

The subdivision is a unique design, according to Williford, since it is a “flagpole” style that covers roughly 2.8 acres divided into 14 lots with a narrow strip of land running up the middle that will connect to the public right of way. 

Logan Ray, co-founder of Bell-Ray Investments LLC, said this is a cost-effective way to provide more housing to his community, and he drew inspiration from similar layouts in Arizona and Florida. 

According to the new plat submitted by Brush & Associates, Inc. on behalf of Bell-Ray Investments LLC, half of the lots will measure roughly 150 by 75 feet, and the other half will measure roughly 150 by 50 feet. 

“We just need more affordable housing and these are going to be brand-new homes — good-sized homes — that people can own instead of rent,” Ray said. 

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes will range between 1,200 and 1,600 square feet and will include a one- or two-car garage. Layouts will vary and the average asking price of the homes will be between $200,000 and $250,000. 

“Our hope is that their monthly payment will be close to what they’re paying in rent right now,” Ray said. 

Construction on the first house is expected to begin later this week, but Ray said anyone interested in purchasing a custom home is welcome to email him at loganrayslumberland@gmail.com. 

The surrounding area includes both industrial and residential properties, according to the memo. Properties to the north and south are zoned I-1/Light Industrial but are currently used residentially. Property to the east is zoned I-2/Heavy Industrial and is used industrially while property to the west is zoned R-2/ Multiple Family and is used residentially.