The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a preliminary plat and associated tree mitigation plan for Magnolia Village, a proposed 4.364-plus-acre subdivision at 102 Barnett Boulevard.

City community development coordinator Autumn Amen told commissioners the preliminary plat shows property boundaries, easements, the layout of streets and utilities, and lot sizes for 25 residential patio-home lots. “This preliminary plat basically shows the overall expression of the property, showing the property boundaries, easements, your layout of streets, utilities, and lot sizes. Okay?” Amen said.

The approved tree mitigation plan, Amen said, documents which trees will remain and which will be removed. “There was a 147 trees counted, a 112 being removed, leaving 35,” she said, and added that the builder will be required to plant two trees in each front yard before a certificate of occupancy. Amen said the two replacement trees are proposed to be magnolias, which would bring the site total to roughly 85 trees after planting. “Per ordinance, the PD ordinance, it states 2 magnolias in the front,” she added.

Staff and the city engineer reviewed the application for compliance with the city subdivision ordinance and the property’s planned development (PD) ordinance and recommended approval. Amen noted she visited the site to verify tree tagging and condition. The plan calls for sidewalks within the development and along Barnett Boulevard and identifies street names at this stage. A commission member confirmed house footprints will be about 1,600 to 1,800 square feet for single-story homes, with a few two-story units larger in total square footage.

Commissioners asked about fire access and paving; city public works staff said the paving section under review is a 30-foot, back-to-back standard street. Amen said the review found the proposal meets the PD and subdivision requirements; because this was a preliminary plat, no public hearing or 200-foot notice was required.

A commissioner moved to accept the preliminary plat and tree mitigation plan “as presented.” The motion passed unanimously, with Alternate Scott Campbell voting in place of absent Commissioner Kevin McMahon.

The approval is for the preliminary plat only; developers must return for final-platting and for permits before construction begins.