131-unit North Mansfield proposal forwarded with fire access and phasing comments

Fayetteville City staff accepted a large site improvement plan for a proposed 131‑unit residential development on North Mansfield Avenue for continued review, but several technical issues must be resolved before permits are issued.

Ecological Design Group representatives Caitlin Hopkins and Alex Brown presented the proposal at the Techbot meeting. Planning staff said the submittal lacked some cover‑sheet items and requested a variance to the city’s repetition standard for building types along the east side. Staff also asked for a consolidated table summarizing right‑of‑way and street improvements and for clarification on unit counts in Building 11, where internal unit configuration may alter the number of permitted units and required parking or common spaces.

Multiple city departments raised substantive technical issues. Fire said the aerial‑apparatus access appeared constrained and asked the applicant to reconfigure the connection so aerial equipment can operate without leaving the roadway. Fire also noted hydrant spacing concerns, with only one hydrant shown at the end of phase 1; additional hydrants will be required in phased areas to meet spacing requirements. Engineering asked for street‑improvement adjustments and noted potential conflicts with stormwater and utility partitioning. Forestry and landscape staff pointed to parking areas lacking required tree islands and asked for screening around dumpsters and utility equipment. Building safety reminded the applicant that buildings closer than 20 feet require one‑hour rated walls and limit openings.

Planning staff said many comments were similar to prior phases and that the item can be forwarded to continue review if the applicant coordinates offline with Fire and Engineering to resolve the access and hydrant issues. The record shows staff agreed to forward the item with the understanding that fire‑access revisions and other departmental comments will be addressed on subsequent submittals; no final permits were issued at the meeting.