Planning and Zoning Commission backs Ashford Place PD plan despite neighborhood traffic, density objections

The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 4 recommended approval of a planned development plan, revised statement of intent and preliminary plat for “Ashford Place,” a 24.13‑acre project proposing 77 single‑family attached dwelling units, by a 7–1 vote.

The recommendation, moved by Commissioner Walters and seconded by Commissioner Ortiz, directs staff to place the project on the City Council agenda subject to technical corrections and an agreed development agreement before council introduction.

City planning staff, represented at the meeting by David Koontz, planning staff, told the commission the proposal conforms to the tract’s 2010 annexation statement of intent and cited existing infrastructure and prior traffic work as the basis for its recommendation. Koontz said staff received 91 written comments on the case, “87 were in opposition,” and listed traffic, parking, stormwater, green space and neighborhood character as the primary concerns.

The applicant’s team — Andy Green of Crockett Engineering Consultants and engineer Tim Crockett — told the commission the plan complies with the 2010 statement of intent and reduces the theoretical maximum unit count for the tract. “3.2, that’s, that’s in the range of single family densities all over Columbia,” Crockett told the commission, noting the proposed density is below the PUD‑4 maximum assigned at annexation.

Neighbors and attorneys who appeared for residents urged commissioners to require stronger mitigation before…