Planning Commission recommends rezoning for 60-unit Waterford cluster development; neighbors and fire marshal concerns noted

The Leawood Planning Commission on April 22 voted unanimously to recommend approval of Case 27-25, Waterford of Leawood, a rezoning and final-development package to build 19 cluster residential buildings totaling 60 dwelling units on about 11 acres at the southwest corner of 130th Street and Mission Road.

Planner Cameron Ewing summarized the proposal: "The applicant is requesting approval of a rezoning from RP4 to RP3, preliminary plan, preliminary plat, final plan, and final plat on approximately 11 acres to allow for the construction of 19 cluster residential buildings for a total of 60 units, resulting in a density of 5.54 dwelling units per acre." Staff recommended approval with 39 stipulations, including park impact and South Leawood transportation fees to be paid prior to final plat recording.

The applicant team said the development would preserve about a 55-foot native-vegetation area along the south property line as permanent screening between the new buildings and existing homes in Leawood Meadows. Architect Scott Slaughey and owner Doug Hoffman described unit types clustered into 2-, 3- and 4-unit buildings, a centrally located amenity area with a pool and community room, private internal roads built to city public-street standards and a mixture of exterior materials including stone, hardy board and standing-seam metal roofing.

Neighbors spoke at the public hearing. Jane Ross, who lives in Leawood Meadows, said residents want continued protection of the long-standing tree line and the 75-foot setback tied to earlier approvals (2003), but told commissioners that the immediate neighbor group was "okay with 65 feet" for this plan because the buildings are set sideways and mostly one- to one-and-a-half stories.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on several technical items that remain to be resolved during city review and permitting. Commissioner Barr asked about an April 7 memo from the interim fire marshal; staff and the applicant said the fire department's comments — including questions about street width, emergency apparatus access and hydrant locations — remain subject to final engineering review and coordination with WaterOne (the water utility). City engineer comments and a Johnson County wastewater affidavit were noted as prerequisites to submitting water design to WaterOne. The applicant said WaterOne and the fire department will determine final hydrant locations and flows.

Commissioners also discussed parking, visitor spaces and how private green spaces and walkouts will function. The applicant said the project proposes internal visitor parking concentrated near the central amenity and limited on-street parking on the private "legs" off the main drives; the commission directed that those legs be signed as no-parking per fire-department requirements.

Commissioner Hoyt moved for approval with the revised Stipulation No. 7; Commissioner Fishman seconded. The chair announced the motion carried unanimously and the case will be forwarded to the governing body for final action.