The Auburn City Council on July 22 approved a conditional-use request for a multiunit residential development located at 1397 North Dean Road, marking the third iteration of the project and confirming that overall density has not increased from earlier approvals.

Planning staff told council the site has been under review for several years and that a 2025 floodplain update required the developer to adjust the northern portion of the site plan. The updated configuration carves out the most northern part of the property to avoid newly mapped floodplain and led to design changes in building placement and site layout.

Staff said the project is a multiunit development (MUD) rather than fee-simple townhomes; under the MUD approach all buildings sit on a single lot rather than on separate fee-simple lots. Council members asked about private roads, trash collection and whether the city would take responsibility for internal roads. Planning staff confirmed private roads remain private and that trash service will be private collection, with three compactors shown on the site plan.

The council opened a public hearing and received no speakers; the developers' representative was present for questions. Council members voted to approve the request after staff confirmed that density and site configuration comply with city requirements and that recent improvements at nearby intersections have been completed.

Staff said private roads and internal infrastructure will continue to be the developer's responsibility, and that the city had previously approved similar private-road arrangements in townhome developments.