Planners postpone vote on rezoning former Hillview Elementary after heavy public opposition and lack of quorum

Jefferson County Planning and Zoning staff presented a request to rezone the former Hillview Elementary site from Institutional-1 to R-2 to allow a 15-lot single-family subdivision, but the Planning and Zoning Commission postponed a vote after public opposition and a commissioner recusal left the panel without a quorum.

The applicant, Steve Hartwick, proposed 15 detached single-family homes on lots that staff described as generally around 27,000 square feet in area, with lot widths varying between about 44 and 75 feet and a development density of approximately 2.27 dwelling units per acre. Staff said each home would have a minimum floor area of 1,400 square feet and price points in the $250,000–$300,000 range; access was proposed from Egret Drive only. Staff recommended approval and reported two letters of opposition and one letter of support.

Neighbors and community representatives urged the commission to deny the rezoning or to delay action until the community’s redevelopment proposals were considered. “I am down for development. I would love to see something beautiful happen there. But the negative — I don’t want you to bring anything that would make such a discomfort to me,” said Yolanda Coleman, who gave her address as 953 Egret Drive and said she lives adjacent to the proposed site. Coleman raised drainage, a steep ditch near her gate, and placement of sidewalks as specific concerns.

Several other residents urged the commission to preserve the site for civic uses. “Changing this area from institutional zone 1 to R-2 isn’t what this community wants,” said Austin Core of 715 Mojave Drive, who argued the neighborhood would benefit more from a community center or storm shelter than new housing. Realtor Luciana Guin said the proposed home sizes and price points do not match area comparables and warned that smaller, pricier units could remain unsold and later be turned into rentals with higher turnover.

Applicant Steve Hartwick told the commission the project was not intended as subsidized housing. “We never said they were gonna be Section 8,” Hartwick said, noting the project evolved from an earlier senior-living concept and that the current plan includes sidewalks along the houses. He said the developer will meet county setback and permitting requirements and that driveway access and sidewalk placement were coordinated with the county’s Roads and Transportation Department.

Commissioners heard detailed technical and neighborhood concerns about sewer capacity, driveway access on a narrow Egret Drive, lot geometry at a corner parcel, and potential impacts on nearby property values. Staff noted the site is in the Village Creek watershed but not in a FEMA floodplain and that the lot is designated single-family residential on the county's long-range future land use map.

Before the commission could move to a recommendation, one commissioner recused themself from the case, leaving the panel without the eight voting members required to act. The chair announced the case would be carried over to the next meeting so the commission could convene a quorum. The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; the Jefferson County Commission will hold a subsequent public hearing and make the final decision on any rezoning.

The case will be placed on a future Planning and Zoning Commission agenda once staff and the applicant confirm a date when a full voting panel will be present.