Board approves 213‑unit Boulder Highway apartment project with sidewalk improvements

The Winchester Town Advisory Board on Aug. 26 approved a redevelopment proposal from Boulder Highway Group LLC to build a four‑story, 213‑unit apartment community at the northwest corner of Boulder Highway and Desert Inn. Lucy Stewart, representing the applicant, told the board the project covers just over five acres, includes 213 units, a clubhouse/office, pool and open space "We have 23,339 square feet of open space... and we have 1 extra parking space," Stewart said, adding that the development includes EV charging, planned dog parks and a pickleball court. A notable public‑realm change is the sidewalk treatment along Desert Inn: Stewart said the applicant will remove an existing attached curbside sidewalk and install a detached sidewalk with 5 feet of landscaping on either side to increase pedestrian separation from the road. "We're actually going to rip it out and install the entire sidewalk," she said, and added the change was coordinated with the county commissioner's office because of local pedestrian safety concerns. Board members and members of the public asked about traffic impacts on already‑busy Boulder Highway and the timing of construction. Stewart said a traffic study will be prepared as part of the review process and that off‑site improvements required by the study will be implemented prior to permit issuance. She estimated it will be about 18 weeks to progress through permitting and roughly 18–24 months before vertical construction begins, placing the earliest construction start about a year to 18 months out depending on approvals. The board voted to approve the design review and use‑permit related items with staff conditions; staff had recommended approval. Required actions before building permits include completion and county acceptance of traffic and drainage analyses and coordination on sidewalk construction and right‑of‑way work.