The Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the preliminary plat and design review for “The Ranch,” a 312‑acre mixed‑use project that will include multifamily housing, mixed‑use buildings with ground‑floor commercial, a commercial corner and an industrial area with restricted design standards along the western edge.

Planner Nicole Russell told commissioners the project site is zoned under five districts in the approved development plan and will be built in phases. “The first phase of the development will consist of the green open space,” Russell said, noting Phase 1 will provide roughly an 18.5‑acre buffer along Wren Drive between the existing Morrison Ranch neighborhood and the new development. The mixed‑use areas include live‑work units and several three‑story residential buildings. Russell said the project provides 41.8% open space, exceeding the 40% requirement.

Project scope: The multifamily medium district would contain 220 units across two‑story buildings; mixed‑use small and large districts would add several three‑story residential buildings for a total of 729 units in the proposed phases, Russell said. The general commercial corner includes roughly 24,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial and a circular plaza for gatherings; other commercial pads would include restaurants, quick‑service uses, a convenience store with a fuel island sized to service both passenger vehicles and semis, and an oil‑change pad.

Industrial design and restrictions: The industrial portion comprises about 21.1 acres of the site and contains a restricted 18.28‑acre area with an enhanced 280‑foot buffer from the western boundary, a 35‑foot landscape buffer and a 35‑foot building setback; no illuminated signage is permitted on the west side of restricted buildings and lot lighting within 100 feet of multifamily is limited to 14 feet in height.

Neighborhood outreach: The applicant said it has met with neighbors multiple times and remains in communication; staff received 38 letters of objection that largely focus on unit count rather than design. Applicant representative Sean Lake said the project has been in development for about 3½ years and that the team had worked to respond to comments, including changes to loading‑area screening and other design details.

Commission response and action: Commissioners generally praised changes staff and the applicant made since earlier study sessions. Commissioner Simon said he was “excited to see this project go in” and praised the project’s gateway possibilities. Vice Chair Fay and Commissioner Davis said they supported staff’s recommendation to approve; staff recommended approval of S‑24‑01 (preliminary plat and open space plan) and DR‑24‑06 (design review) and commissioners voted to approve both applications.

Ending: The applicant will proceed to finalize construction documents and subsequent permit phases consistent with the approved master plan and phasing schedule.