Amazon replat hearing continued after staff flags lot depth ratio issue

The Planning Commission continued a replat application from an Amazon-related applicant after staff identified a lot-depth-to-frontage ratio that exceeds the city’s lot design standard.

Planning staff explained Jan. 28 that the proposed lot fails the city’s depth ratio limitation (the lot’s depth-to-frontage exceeds the code maximum of 2.5), a standard intended to prevent very long, narrow parcels. The staff report noted the site currently has about an 800-foot frontage with a depth of roughly 3,000 feet, producing what staff described as an approximate 1:4 ratio and exceeding the 2.5-to-1 maximum. Staff advised the applicant requested a continuance to the February hearing to submit revisions or additional information and recommended granting that request.

“Since staff is actually recommending that we continue this hearing to February…to allow the applicant to submit that additional information, I would just recommend that we continue this hearing to your next meeting,” staff said. A commissioner moved to postpone the hearing to February per the applicant’s request; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Smith, Cooper, Jones and Chair Nobles voting aye.

Staff also noted that the depth-ratio standard is generally more applicable to residential lots than industrial parcels; staff said Amazon intended to submit additional materials to address the standard at the continued hearing.

The commission’s continuance postpones any decision until the applicant submits revised materials and the hearing resumes in February as requested by the applicant.