Commission recommends reconfiguration of Lake Asbury village-center boundaries; no net change in residential density

The Clay County Planning Commission recommended approval of a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment (CP 02/50011) and a companion rezoning (ZON 02/50014) to adjust village center and master-planned-community boundaries within the Lake Asbury development.

Planning staff said the amendments move portions of land across Cathedral Oak Parkway and adjacent rights-of-way so the village-center designation more closely aligns with the built and planned road network and stormwater infrastructure. Staff found the criteria for both the future-land-use change and the zoning change were met and recommended approval.

Casey Dendor of England, Tims & Miller, representing the applicant, said the change affects a total of 35.66 acres: 17.83 acres would move from village center to master-planned community (MPC) and 17.83 acres from MPC to village center, creating an even swap that keeps overall intensity and density unchanged. Dendor said the swap reduces potential wetland impacts, improves connectivity between residential and nonresidential uses, accommodates townhomes in parts of the village center and brings nonresidential acreage that was previously shown in a right-of-way into the developable site.

Staff noted a previously recorded proportionate-share agreement for school concurrency and said environmental due diligence removed concerns about an historic bald eagle nest that had last been recorded active in 1995 and was not found during a 2023 survey. Commissioners moved to approve the staff report and the companion rezoning; both motions passed on voice vote.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Clay County Board of County Commissioners for final action at a scheduled hearing.