Auburn panel approves 39‑lot subdivision after residents raise traffic and drainage concerns

The Auburn Planning Commission on the February 2025 meeting approved a preliminary plat for a 39‑lot conventional subdivision on roughly 47.5 acres at the northeast corner of Hamilton Road and Bonnie Glen Road.

The approval matters because the development will change local traffic patterns, requires a future connection to the partly unpaved Bonnie Glen Road and sits adjacent to Moores Mill Creek and a 100‑year floodplain — raising concerns among nearby residents about school bus access, emergency vehicle access and drainage.

Planning staff presented the preliminary plat, saying the property is zoned Comprehensive Development District (CDD) and the future land‑use designation is low‑density residential (approximately four dwelling units per acre). The proposed plat shows 39 lots — 36 single‑family residential lots, two labeled as future development and one outlot. Staff calculated an effective density of about 1.4 dwelling units per acre, below the CDD conventional subdivision maximum of four units per acre. Staff recommended approval and noted routine preliminary‑plat comments; the engineering review required a development agreement to formalize the timing and location of a future connection to Bonnie Glen Road.

Several nearby homeowners spoke during the public hearing. Mike Harrison, who identified himself as a resident of 2026 Bonnie Glen Road, asked whether the plat requires a decel or turn lane on Hamilton Road and whether the traffic study accounted for high Sunday traffic to a nearby church. Katie Schaffer, who said she lives at 2036 Bonnie Glen Road, said she is "pro development" but worried that the unpaved section of Bonnie Glen Road prevents the school bus from driving down the road and that first responders could be blocked. "If the bus can't drive down our road, I kind of worry that first responders can't drive down our road," Schaffer said.

Dorothy Smith, a homeowner who said she lives nearby, urged the commission to consider drainage and tree preservation, telling commissioners the area already experiences drainage issues during heavy rainfall and asking what measures would prevent nearby properties from seeing increased stormwater runoff. Robert Gamateez, another resident, asked whether city water and sewer would be extended to Bonnie Glen and whether connector roads would be completed to tie into existing subdivisions.

The applicant's representative said a traffic study had been submitted to the city and that the master plan shows planned turn lanes: a northbound left‑turn lane and a southbound right‑turn lane into the new development from Hamilton Road. The applicant said the planned connection to Bonnie Glen would be paved up to the connection point and that the section of Bonnie Glen north of the new tie‑in would remain unchanged at this time. "We're not changing the road," the applicant said. "We're just trying to build our development. We're trying to be good neighbors to tie in the Bonnie Glen like the city has asked us."

Staff and the applicant said timing for the connection could not be firmly fixed because it depends on acquisition of additional property and subsequent phases of development; staff recommended a development agreement to ensure the connection occurs within a set timeframe rather than "lingering" between phases. Planning staff also confirmed there is currently no city water or sewer along Bonnie Glen; staff said they had requested an easement from the new connection road to Bonnie Glen to explore providing water to that area, but that extension is not currently part of any committed plan.

After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the preliminary plat (recorded in the meeting as "Motion to approve PP2024-fifty"). The motion carried on a voice vote; the record shows the chair called for "All in favor say aye" and stated the motion carries. The motion, second and individual roll‑call votes were not recorded by name in the transcript.

The applicant indicated an intent to begin site work within about 90 days if market conditions allow, and estimated full build‑out of the development could take roughly three to five years, subject to market forces and future phases.

Commissioners and staff noted that if the applicant later sought different housing types or higher densities than shown on the preliminary plat, the project would require return to the commission for additional review and subdivision approvals.

Votes: The commission approved the preliminary plat for the 39‑lot subdivision; the motion was recorded as "Motion to approve PP2024-fifty" and carried on a voice vote. The transcript does not record individual affirmative or negative votes by name.