Planning Commission approves Barton Village Phase 2 townhomes after debate over open-space standards, 6-2

The Lebanon Planning Commission voted 6-2 on Feb. 24 to approve the Barton Village Phase 2 townhome site plan, allowing a 171-unit phase in the Barton Village North Specific Plan area amid disagreement over whether the proposed small green spaces satisfy the South Hartman overlay’s open-space design standards.

Staff presented concerns that several narrow "pocket parks" on the plan do not meet the overlay’s intent for frontable, community-serving open space and suggested redesignating some units as townhouse-court units and removing certain units from the current phase until adjacent parcels could be incorporated.

Camille Berdine, Lebanon City Council member for Ward 3, told the commission she had worked with the developer and said the plan and the specific plan have remained consistent over several years; she said she was "for this, and as it is." Thomas White, the developer’s attorney (represented in materials), provided a written position arguing the site plan is consistent with the approved specific plan drawings and supporting documents.

Casey Warner of Suncrest handed a packet to the commission showing the earlier approved specific plan and argued the units have been shown fronting green spaces "since the beginning of time" and that the pocket parks would be open, landscaped and accessible rather than fenced.

Several commissioners said the question is whether the deviation from the overlay’s illustrative plaza/park standard "enhances the appearance and design" sufficiently to qualify as an acceptable alternative under the design-review provisions. After debate, a motion to approve "as drawn and not require any changes" passed with six votes in favor and two opposed. The commission recorded the tally as "6 yeses, 2 noes; motion is approved."