Board approves plan amendment and zone change to resume 'Independence' townhome build on 32 acres; one member opposes

The Sunrise Manor Town Advisory Board voted on April 10 to adopt a plan amendment (PA2570000179) and to approve a zone change (ZC2502209) to reclassify roughly 32.36 acres at the northeast corner of Vegas Valley Drive and Sloan Lane from public use/public facility to a residential multifamily designation (RM18) that would permit townhome development as part of the larger Independence project.

Denise Yobardio, representing the applicant, said the parcel originally was approved with the larger Independence development but lost its effective zoning under a change in how nonconforming zone changes are treated under the new code. She told the board the applicant seeks to reestablish a consistent master plan and zoning so technical studies — including traffic and drainage — can resume. Yobardio said the prior approval contemplated a total of about 306 attached townhome units on the larger project footprint; the unit mix for this 32-acre piece may change and will return to the board when specific plans are developed.

A resident speaker raised concerns about homeowners-association mandatory fees (citing bundled services such as cable and internet) and the availability of on-site parks for children; another commenter asked that the development not exacerbate safety risks around the nearby sewer plant. Planning staff and the applicant pointed to substantial open space and easements on the site, including a large buffer area intended to separate the site from the sewer facility; staff recommended approval of both the plan amendment and the zone change.

A motion to adopt the plan amendment carried on a roll call that recorded one dissent (Earl). The board then approved the zone change by the same margin; Earl again registered opposition on the record. Board members who supported the measures cited the importance of formalizing the land-use plan so the developer can proceed with required technical studies. The chair clarified that the resolution adopting the amendment would be signed by the county commission chair if approved at the county level.

The applicant and staff emphasized that the specific product mix (garage vs. covered parking, unit sizes) will be determined later and must comply with fire-district and water-district requirements; the applicant pledged to return with details and to comply with any conditions in the staff report.