The Planning Commission voted July 24 to recommend approval to City Council of PUD 2079 and the accompanying preliminary plat for Sunnyvale Estates Phase 2, with a modified technical evaluation requiring provision of usable open space in a centralized location within a 2,000-foot walkable distance of lots in the PUD.

Mark Grubbs, representing the applicant, asked the commission to modify the master design statement to require “1 acre of usable open space recreational area within 2,000 feet of every lot within the PUD” rather than the staff language requiring a centralized park of unspecified distance. Grubbs said the applicant could meet that commitment using existing common area and an identified one-acre flat space along the eastern boundary, near Block 10 of the plat.

Staff and some commissioners said centrally located open space helps offset smaller lot sizes (40-foot lots / 4,000 square feet) and provides reachable amenities for residents. Commissioners discussed whether the 2,000-foot metric should be measured as walking distance along streets rather than “as the crow flies.” The applicant agreed to the walkable-distance language and the commission agreed to the modified TE.

Action: The Planning Commission recommended approval to City Council of PUD 2079 (Sunnyvale Estates) and the companion preliminary plat (KC7750) with TE language modified to specify open space located within 2,000 feet of walkable distance of lots and to note that final placement of open-space amenities would be finalized at the final plat stage. The commission approved the preliminary plat and noted that the final plat will determine the exact open-space locations and improvements.

Why it matters: The change makes explicit what city staff called a tradeoff for smaller lot sizes: centrally located, reasonably walkable open space to serve residents. Commissioners sought to ensure the amenity would be usable and reachable rather than simply an incidental pocket of unusable land.

What’s next: The applicant will proceed with final-plat work and detail exact open-space locations and amenities at final plat stage for staff approval; the PUD and plat recommendations will be forwarded to City Council.