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Planning Commission backs annexation of Webster Road property, recommends rezoning and approves preliminary plat
Summary
The Auburn Planning Commission recommended annexing roughly 211 acres along Webster Road, recommended rezoning about 130 acres to industrial, and approved a four‑lot preliminary plat; a resident raised traffic and access concerns tied to Bellwood Place, and staff said primary access will be from Webster Road.
The Auburn Planning Commission on a unanimous voice vote recommended that the City Council annex about 211 acres at 430 Lee Road 53 (Webster Road), recommended rezoning roughly 130 acres of that land from rural to industrial, and approved a four‑lot preliminary subdivision plat for the site.
The actions follow staff presentations that the annexation meets the city’s annexation policy and the City Comprehensive Plan 2030. The annexation was described to commissioners as not requiring a public hearing at the planning commission level and scheduled to be heard by City Council on May 20. Staff said an estimate of 270 vehicle trips per day associated with the site is a rule‑of‑thumb figure tied to potential zoning rather than a formal traffic study.
The commission opened a public hearing on the rezoning portion of the request. George Ramey, a resident of 1863 Bellwood Place, told commissioners he opposed the rezoning primarily because of potential access and traffic impacts on his small, largely rental neighborhood. Ramey said Bellwood Place currently terminates near the affected parcel, that children use the street and that the neighborhood includes a transit stop. He said he preferred that any property access avoid routing traffic through Bellwood Place.
City staff responded that the portion of the annexed property adjacent to Bellwood Place is not part of the industrial rezoning and that the primary access planned for the new development will extend from Webster Road. Staff said road connections and specific driveway routing are reviewed during the preliminary plat and engineering phases rather than at the rezoning hearing.
Commissioners moved and seconded motions approving the annexation recommendation to council, the rezoning recommendation, and the preliminary plat for a four‑lot conventional subdivision that includes a dedicated outlot reserved for future right‑of‑way. Each motion carried on an affirmative vote.
The preliminary plat (presented as PP2025009 in the meeting packet) will reserve right‑of‑way consistent with the city’s major street plan and will be considered by City Council along with the annexation and future land‑use map change. The staff presentation noted that approximately 80 acres of the annexed property will remain in rural zoning and that the rezoning under consideration covers an approximately 130‑acre portion of the site.
Commissioners closed the public hearing after hearing from Ramey and approved the recommendations. Staff advised residents to contact the city with follow‑up questions about access and engineering details.
Looking ahead, the annexation, rezoning recommendation and preliminary plat will be considered by City Council at its scheduled public meeting; final engineering, road alignment and any required traffic mitigation will be reviewed during the plat engineering and permitting process.
