Backus hearing withdrawn after notice error; neighbors urge changes to proposed 3‑story apartments

Planning staff told the Verona Planning Commission on Oct. 6 that the required public hearing on a comprehensive‑plan amendment for the Backus property east of Blue Ice Pass and west of County Highway M was not properly noticed, and the applicant has withdrawn the item and asked to be heard at the Dec. 1 planning commission meeting.

That matters because the withdrawal pauses formal consideration of land‑use changes that neighbors say would allow a three‑story apartment building immediately adjacent to single‑family lots — a change residents said would affect privacy, sunlight and property values.

"The public hearing agenda items for the Backus property East Of Blue Ice Pass and West Of County Highway M will not be discussed this evening. The required public hearing for the comprehensive plan amendment was not properly noticed by city staff, and therefore, the item cannot be considered," Lucas Severson, planning staff, told the commission. He said separate notices will be republished…