Winchester City Council approved final subdivision platting Tuesday for a redevelopment project at 441 Linden Drive that will convert the former middle school site into townhomes and single‑family units with a public park.

Staff described the request as a ministerial final‑subdivision approval for a roughly 13‑acre site. The plan presented calls for up to 136 dwelling units on the parcel (previous traffic analyses had modeled up to 160 units), a mix of public and private streets, and a park top lot with a pavilion, a playground and a turf field that staff said will ultimately be dedicated to the city.

The developer (Greenway Engineering, represented at the meeting) submitted HOA documents that will keep certain improvements — including the main parking lot adjacent to the park — under HOA ownership with a recorded declaration obligating the HOA to make the lot available for park users. Staff and the developer said the city will accept dedication of the park improvements and assume maintenance responsibility for the park itself; the parking lot will remain on HOA land but be shared for park access per the developer’s declaration.

Councilors raised questions about traffic and emergency access. Staff said the original PUD approvals and traffic‑impact analyses (completed during earlier approvals in 2021 and 2022) addressed site access; the traffic analysis had assumed a higher unit count and estimated that about 60% of trips would use Linden Drive. Council staff and the developer said the townhome developer is responsible for installing a roundabout at one intersection; a second roundabout tied to a separately owned active‑adult parcel will be built when that parcel proceeds and is the responsibility of that future developer. Council acknowledged the timing of the second roundabout is not yet scheduled and that construction phasing could produce temporary traffic impacts.

On stormwater, staff said the redevelopment must meet state code requirements for redevelopment sites — including a water‑quality improvement requirement and detention to ensure downstream channels do not flood in a 10‑year storm event. The developer presented plans calling for an on‑site pond for the active‑adult portion and underground detention for the townhome portion to meet stormwater controls.

A motion to approve final subdivision was made, seconded and carried on roll call. Councilors recorded affirmative roll‑call responses and declared the final subdivision approved. Staff will continue site‑plan review and require the developer to complete the public improvements and stormwater facilities as part of permit and construction sequencing.