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Planning Commission approves one‑year extension for London Town Unit 9A after developers pledge public‑improvement plans
Summary
The City Planning Commission approved a 12‑month time extension for the final plat of London Town Unit 9A after developers and their representatives told the commission public improvement plans were in progress and construction was likely early next year. Commissioners debated past extensions and whether new code requirements should apply.
The City Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a 12‑month time extension for the final plat of London Town Unit 9A after developer representatives said public improvement plans (PI plans) are being prepared and construction is expected in the first quarter of next year.
Commissioners debated whether the project should meet newer Unified Development Code (UDC) requirements before the commission grants another extension. Andrew Demas, development services staff, said in his presentation that the plats “have been reviewed by the technical review committee as well as other city staff” and that staff “recommends approval” of the requests on the consent agenda, including the time extension when discussed.
The extension covers London Town Unit 9A, which staff and developers said was originally scheduled earlier in the subdivision sequence but was delayed when the developer shifted work to units south to improve neighborhood connectivity near a school. Developers and their consultants told the commission the delay is a market‑timing issue rather than a cancellation of the project.
Beau Weiser of Pape Dawson, representing the developer on the project, said PI plans are under preparation and expected to be submitted in the next quarter. “PI plans are coming. Design is in the works right now. We just didn't get them submitted in time for this plat extension,” Weiser said, adding that the construction date is expected to be “early next year.”
Developer Barb Braselton of Braselton Development told the commission the larger London Town subdivision already has substantial activity. “We have over 500 lots 500 homes on the ground right now,” Braselton said, adding that “in total, there's another 300.” She asked the commission to consider slow market conditions when deciding on the extension.
Several commissioners pressed staff and the developer for specifics. One commissioner noted the extension under consideration is the third 12‑month extension for the unit and asked whether PI plans had already been submitted; Demas acknowledged a staff memo mistakenly said first extension but confirmed it was the third. Commissioners also asked whether the commission could grant a shorter extension; Demas said the UDC sets a 12‑month minimum for this type of time extension, and the commission cannot grant fewer than 12 months.
Commission debate centered on consistency with prior statements to developers, the impact of repeated extensions on fairness among applicants, and the public‑improvement work already invested by the developer. One commissioner said that after several extensions there must be “a really good reason” to approve another and indicated a personal intent to vote no if the reasons were not sufficient; other commissioners said the market slowdown and the connectivity rationale justified the extension.
The commission ultimately voted to approve the time extension for London Town Unit 9A per staff recommendation. The motion passed and the item will be subject to the standard requirements tied to plat approvals and the filing of public improvement plans.
