Council advances Ovation rezoning after debate over sewage "excess flow" holding basin

Council members voted unanimously to move the Ovation rezoning and preliminary development plan to second reading after a multi-hour public hearing in which neighbors raised concerns about an "excess flow" holding basin the city plans to site within the project footprint.

The Ovation proposal covers the southeast quadrant of U.S. 291 and SE M-150 Highway and would rezone the northern portion of an 80-acre parcel so the developer can build townhomes, a future mixed-use parcel and single-family housing to the south. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval after the developer revised the plan to add parking pods, more amenity space and other changes recommended by neighbors and planners.

Why it matters: The project changes zoning along a major corridor, adds several hundred housing units in stages and includes a sanitary-system improvement that city staff say is needed to prevent manhole overflows in the broader watershed. The holding basin — designed to temporarily store storm-driven sewage inflows — prompted the strongest public concern at the hearing.

The developer’s presentation and staff analysis

Matt Slish, representing Engineering Solutions and the Ward development team, said the northern 40 acres are the focus of the rezoning and preliminary development plan. He described a plan that reduces commercial zoning from about 30…