City Council approves Augustine Avenue Apartments PUD and preliminary plat with stormwater condition

Moscow City Council on Sept. 2 approved a planned unit development and preliminary subdivision plat for the Augustine Avenue Apartments, a mixed‑use project proposing 114 dwelling units and 16 commercial live‑work units on about 4.06 acres in the Eddington subdivision.

The PUD approval was granted without conditions after the council concluded a public hearing and reviewed staff recommendations. The council approved the preliminary plat subject to one condition from the Planning and Zoning Commission that the applicant submit a stormwater report and include any mitigation actions necessary to ensure there are no downstream adverse impacts, subject to the city engineer’s approval.

Staff planner Mike Ray told council the project would create 10 parcels ranging from about 5,500 to 7,407 square feet and two common‑area tracts for parking, open space, landscaping and stormwater detention. The development would contain a mix of building types labeled in the submission as “tenplexes” and an “Alfred” three‑story building, and would reuse an existing shop building as a property management office or other permitted commercial use.

Ray described zoning and density calculations, saying the RO (residential‑office) base density is 24 dwelling units per acre and the site’s 4.06 acres yield a base allowance of about 97 units; the applicant seeks 114 units and thus requested density bonuses totaling an 18% increase. Ray said staff recommended specific bonus percentages by category (mix of housing, sustainable practices, alternative transportation, water conservation, and aesthetic/functional features) that together would produce a 19% award under staff recommendation.

Applicant representative Scott Summer explained the PUD layout was intended to divide the development into parcels local builders could afford and described floodplain and grading work already completed on portions of the site. “We will meet the rules, and we’ll fill out all the paperwork permits and go through everything with the city, FEMA, and all the jurisdictions that require it,” Summer said when describing the floodplain analysis and elevation certificates.

Councilmembers pressed for technical clarifications on floodplain mapping, ADA access and parking. Ray said existing water and sewer mains serve the subdivision and that engineering had determined potable and fire flows were adequate. The site plan calls for 198 off‑street parking spaces (192 required), including six ADA spaces and about 88 bicycle parking spaces, roughly half of which are sheltered.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the PUD and preliminary plat with the single stormwater report condition. Council moved and approved the PUD and later approved the preliminary plat with that condition; council discussion noted that parkland dedication had been deferred consistent with prior approvals for the Eddington subdivision and that final floodplain elevations will be confirmed through permit filings.

Council’s action allows the applicant to proceed to the permitting phase where building permits and any required floodplain development permits or elevation certificates must be provided. The applicant and city staff said development will be phased and constructed according to market conditions.

Key project documents and next steps — including the stormwater report and any required elevation certificates — will be reviewed by the city engineer at the permit stage.