Planning commission reauthorizes Cubes at Sparta Pike plats, grants variances with conditions

The City Planning Commission approved the preliminary and final plats for Cubes at Sparta Pike and granted the variances requested for block lengths, block perimeter and lot size, while placing conditions that future site plans must meet the development code in effect at the time of submittal.

Staff described the project as a large industrial park, roughly 204.9 acres, and recommended approval of variances tied to long spine roads and lot configurations with the condition that future site plans comply with applicable code changes.

Byron Gill, representing the applicant, said the request largely renews prior approvals and that substantial site work, including mass grading, already has been performed. "This is a large industrial site that has been in the process for the last 3 or 4 years," Gill said.

George Stock, the project engineer, told the commission the development team previously received approvals and that mass grading and a rail crossing negotiation had occurred. He said an estimated $10 million of site work has already been completed based on the previously approved plan.

Staff asked that, if variances are granted now, a condition require that any future subdivision or site plan be held to the development code in effect at the time of those future applications. The applicant objected that such a condition could require rework of existing mass grading and could cause practical impacts for work already underway.

After discussion, the commission approved the preliminary and final plats and granted the variances with the recommended condition that subsequent planning and site plan submittals comply with code requirements in force at the time of their filing. The commission did not attach additional monetary conditions to the approval in the planning commission record.