Developer seeks townhouse rezoning in Cambridge Square; public raises parking concerns, planning commission recommended approval

A developer asked commissioners to rezone a 2.1‑acre parcel in the Cambridge Square area from M‑1 (manufacturing) to RTZ (residential townhouse/zero lot line) to accommodate 26 townhome units.

Planning staff described the parcel and said the White Oak Mountain plan designates the area as a town‑center place type, which allows multi‑unit residential uses. The application originally showed alley‑loaded townhomes and internal alleys; the applicant later revised the plan to increase green space and change alleys to dead‑end streets with turnarounds while maintaining a total of 26 units.

Derek Blackwood of MAP Engineers said the developer shifted the plan to preserve more green space and that shifting from a commercial or office use to townhomes would likely reduce traffic impact. A nearby resident, Terry Yoder, raised concerns about parking and general congestion in Cambridge Square; staff said the townhome units will include their own garages and that the development should not take public parking from the adjacent commercial area. The applicant said the townhomes will provide individual garage parking and that the site was previously blocked from access so the units would not draw from commercial parking.

Planning staff said Cambridge Square infrastructure is in place and that planning staff and the commission concluded the rezoning to RTZ is compatible with the adopted plan; the planning commission recommended approval with no conditions. The transcript records the discussion and public comment and indicates the commission will take up related PUD amendments next week; no final commission vote on the rezoning is recorded in the provided excerpt.