Stoughton — Representatives for Continental, the developer of a proposed multifamily project marketed as Authentic Stoughton, asked the City Council on Oct. 14 for a narrow amendment to an existing developer’s agreement so Continental can close and begin construction on its tract before the completion of a Highway B/Greenbrier Drive connection that Stoughton Trailers (STI Holdings) must construct as part of the master development.

Sarah Johnson of Continental told the council the project has received necessary approvals and is “permit ready,” but that completion of the Greenbrier–County B intersection requires additional right‑of‑way acquisition and related off‑site work that lies outside Continental’s control. Continental asked that its parcel be allowed to obtain occupancy certificates under restricted circumstances if STI’s off‑site intersection work is delayed, arguing the developer needs a firm schedule to meet financing and construction timelines. Johnson said the parties were working together with weekly meetings and that STI provided signed letters of intent from the property owners whose parcels must be acquired for the intersection work.

City staff described the master development phasing. Planning staff and city legal counsel noted that the existing development agreement requires completion of all public improvements before occupancy certificates are issued for the master site. The proposal from Continental would carve out only the multifamily tract from that occupancy restriction if certain conditions are met; staff and counsel said they could prepare an amendment that would preserve public‑safety protections while allowing Continental to close and begin construction.

Council members asked about traffic and emergency vehicle access. Continental provided a traffic‑impact analysis update showing that, under a worst‑case scenario in which the Highway B connection is not complete and traffic must route via Greenbrier to U.S. 51, the roadway segment would operate at a Level‑of‑Service A for the counts modeled (Continental said the study assumed only the headquarters and the multifamily site in the calculation). Continental also described construction sequencing and showed a schedule that would keep first occupancy of residential buildings well after the STI improvements’ current projected completion dates; in other words, even with some delay in the intersection work the first occupancies would not occur for many months.

Public‑safety staff discussed options to preserve emergency access and to reduce shortcutting through neighborhoods during construction. One suggested measure was a Knox‑box‑secured gate that emergency responders could open, which the fire department said it could support in limited circumstances.

Outcome: Council members indicated support in principle for a narrowly tailored amendment. They directed staff to draft proposed amendment language in consultation with planning, public safety (fire and police), the city attorney and the developers (Continental and STI) and to bring the draft back to the council for consideration at the next meeting. The council did not vote on a final amendment during the Oct. 14 meeting.

Why it matters: The project would add multifamily housing to Stoughton, address housing supply, and advance a larger master development; timing and conditions for occupancy certificates affect financing and construction schedules and public‑safety planning for the area.

Next steps: City staff will work with Continental and STI to prepare a proposed amendment that preserves emergency access and other public‑safety protections; the amendment will be presented to the council at the next meeting for action.