Planning commission approves Hilldale preliminary‑plat street modification to improve connectivity

The Providence Planning Commission on June 11 approved a modification to the Hilldale preliminary plat that moves a cul‑de‑sac from the southern end of the subdivision to the north, adjusts the street layout and increases on‑site road length to address grading and irrigation concerns.

Scarlett, the city planner, told commissioners the change was proposed after engineering review showed the originally proposed cul‑de‑sac on the south would create unacceptable grades and conflicts with an irrigation main. “From the perspective of meeting the general plan and the transportation plan, this works,” Scarlett said, adding that the modification provides more street connectivity than the previous configuration and that staff would retain all prior conditions except the previously required turnaround.

Developer Jody Robbins said updated elevation information triggered the redesign. Robbins described the engineering constraint in technical terms: “We ended up with a 15 foot cut into the road or cut into the native grade and the lot above it has 10 foot of slope on top of that. So we were going to have 25 feet right on that corner where the irrigation line runs, which was going to make a belly in the irrigation line that was basically 25 feet deep.” Robbins said the revised layout lengthens the road by about 200 feet and allows acceptable grades with less impact to the irrigation main; he added that Spring Creek Water Company preferred the change because it avoids a low point in the main.

Staff told the commission the amendment does not change the overall intent of the approved preliminary plat but will alter lot configuration slightly; staff and the developer said the number of lots may change by one. Commissioners discussed phasing and access: staff confirmed the north portion remains Phase 1 and the south remains Phase 2, and that final grading and cross‑sections will be reviewed during engineering and final plat review. Staff also noted that final plat approvals are handled administratively by city technical staff (engineer, public works director and community development director) after preliminary plat conditions are satisfied.

A public comment submitted by email from Kira Moon encouraged the commission to “require a stub on the future Hilldale Way near 350 North” to improve future access to 300 East and to allow access to a roughly five‑acre field owned by nearby property owners if that land is ever developed. Commissioners reviewed the proposed alignment and acknowledged that creating a stub or through connection could require sacrificing a lot in the plan; they discussed, but did not require at this hearing, additional right‑of‑way acquisition that future development might need.

Following discussion, a motion to approve the requested amendment to the Hilldale preliminary plat with the findings, conclusions and conditions recommended by staff carried. Staff will continue engineering review and work with the irrigation company and developer on final construction plans.