Planning Board approves two‑lot subdivision on Excelsior Springs; fee‑in‑lieu for sidewalk to be negotiated

The Planning Board approved a two‑lot subdivision on Excelsior Springs Avenue and authorized staff to work with the applicant and DPW to negotiate a fee‑in‑lieu payment instead of immediate sidewalk construction along the property frontage. Applicant engineering consultant Tony Yacen and owner Jessica Crawford described a revised layout that moves an existing driveway off Excelsior to Audrey Street to reduce conflict with traffic and to preserve mature street trees in the public right‑of‑way. Board members and DPW staff discussed the city’s planned corridor upgrade — a pedestrian path that may be constructed by the city — and noted that requiring the applicant to build a sidewalk that later conflicts with the city project could be inefficient. The board approved the subdivision and asked the applicant to work with DPW and the city engineer to confirm the fee amount, timing and whether any trees or street lights on Excelsior Springs should still be required. The board also adopted a negative SECRA finding for the subdivision.