Bartlett Planning Commission declines to recommend Union Depot Phase 2 after heavy public concern over daycare, traffic and density

The Bartlett Planning Commission on an 5-2 vote declined to give a favorable recommendation for a special-use permit that would allow developer Blue Sky Development to move forward with site and subdivision plans for a proposed mixed-use residential development adjacent to the existing Union Depot project.

The developer, Keith Grant of Blue Sky Development, asked the commission to recommend the permit so he could proceed with the next steps of the approval process. Planning Director Kim Taylor told the commission the special-use permit is “only to allow the applicant to move forward with the filing of additional plans,” and that final site and construction plans would return to the commission and other review bodies.

The proposal included two conceptual scenarios: Scenario A with a total of about 500 dwelling units (225 loft units plus 275 flats) and 9.5 acres of commercial and 7.1 acres of green space; Scenario B with about 610 units (225 loft units plus 385 flats), 2.1 acres of commercial and 8.5 acres of green space. The property sits at the northeast corner of Highway 70 and Highway 64 in the SC-1 planned commercial zoning district.

Why it matters: neighbors and day-care operators told the commission the development, if built as proposed, could put Little Bear’s Preschool and its playground at risk, increase…