The City Council voted to approve a revised planned residential development plan for a proposed multi‑family project that removes a vehicular connection between the new development and the adjacent Briarwood subdivision.

Mayor Matt Walsh presided over the public hearing and council discussion. A council member moved to amend the resolution to state that “there shall be no vehicular interconnection between the proposed development and Briarwood Subdivision,” the motion was seconded, and the amendment passed by voice vote. The council then approved the amended resolution.

Why it mattered

Residents of the Briarwood neighborhood and leaders of the Briarwood Homeowners Association urged the council to remove the Tipton Drive extension, saying it would create a vehicle "cut‑through" and a safety hazard for children who play in the street. Several residents also raised concerns about privacy, slope and winter driving conditions, dust during construction, and potential water/runoff issues in rear yards.

Public comment and developer response

- Barbara Schlott, secretary of the Briarwood Homeowners Association, said she circulated a petition and asked the council to remove the Tipton Drive extension so the neighborhood perimeter remains intact.

- Tom Quigley, president of the Briarwood Homeowners Association, told the council the HOA collected 104 signed letters (about 53% of all Briarwood households) and that at the local intersection 78% of homes opposed the extension.

- Laura Fox, a Tipton Drive resident, said, “It is unfortunate that the apartments are going in, but you can't win them all. ... I really don't want car headlights, car music, and car noises waking me up or anyone else in our neighborhood.”

- Bob Stratton of Broadmoor, the developer, said the original plan submitted by the developer did not include the Tipton Drive connection; he told the council the project can proceed without that extension.

Council discussion

Council members debated competing priorities: the city's standard practice of connecting neighborhoods and providing multiple access points for emergency response versus neighborhood complaints about speed and cut‑through traffic. Chief James (Fire Chief) told the council the fire department had signed off on the project safety without the Tipton connection and noted that water infrastructure design also benefits from interconnections and avoids dead‑end hydrants.

One council member said a pedestrian connection should be considered if the vehicular connection is removed to preserve nonmotorized access to nearby trails and parks.

Outcome and follow up

The council approved the amendment removing the vehicular connection and then adopted the amended planned residential development plan. Council also authorized a joint application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for workforce housing tax‑incentive benefits for the project.

Residents who spoke asked the council to enforce dust controls during construction; the developer said he was coordinating with contractors and exploring measures such as a water truck on site to reduce dust.

Ending

Council members closed the public hearing after carrying the amended resolution and instructed staff and the developer to continue coordination on construction mitigation measures and required permits.