Commission praises Tony Towne Crossing as an infill model, plans outreach and staff hires for comp-plan update

Commissioners reviewed progress on the city comprehensive-plan update and singled out Tony Towne Crossing as a local example of infill development the city could look to replicate.

Planning staff said Tony Towne Crossing added 36 dwellings without requiring new city-owned streets, water or sewer infrastructure; staff said the project used private on-site infrastructure and included a mix of market-rate and income-restricted units tied to a tax-credit program. Commissioners and county work-group members present said the development is viewed countywide as a success and that it met several design and affordability goals.

The commission discussed outreach to property owners in the city's growth area. Staff proposed a customized mailing to owners that would identify each parcel and its current comprehensive-plan land-use designation and invite owners to comment; staff said the volume of properties is manageable and estimated a 60-day timeline to prepare and mail notices. The commission asked staff to proceed with a mailing and to return with materials for approval.

Staff also briefed the commission on personnel: the mayor and staff are negotiating with a candidate for the combined planning-director/code-enforcement position and hope to present an appointment to council in September. The city also created an administrative-assistant position in the current budget; staff said that new hire will help mailings and department coordination once onboard.

Commissioners asked staff to incorporate the discussion about overlay options for industrial areasto support employee-serving usesinto the comp-plan text where appropriate. The commission did not take formal votes on the comp plan tonight; staff said the commission will receive compiled work-group input in November.