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Oak Ridge council advances 76-unit Badger Avenue townhome PUD on first reading
Summary
The council approved on first reading a land-use map amendment, rezoning and preliminary planned unit development (PUD) for a 76-unit townhome project at 110 Badger Avenue. Council members pressed the developer on stormwater ponds and retention of existing trees; the planning commission had recommended approval.
Oak Ridge City Council on a voice vote advanced a planned unit development and accompanying land-use and rezoning changes for a roughly 10.44-acre site at 110 Badger Avenue, approving the items on first reading.
The project, proposed by R and R Properties, would convert the former ORAU parcel into a 76-unit townhome development with clubhouse, pool and internal roadways. City planning staff told the council the Planning Commission recommended approval of the land-use map amendment and the R4/PUD rezoning.
Council Member Smith pressed the developer about stormwater features and the preservation of existing trees, saying, "Those are anticipated to be open ponds. . . . I'd like to see a plan that shows what existing trees would be retained as part of the project." Planning staff replied that detailed stormwater and tree-retention plans are typically reviewed at the site-plan stage and that the applicant had submitted a site drawing and variances as part of the PUD packet.
Developer Rick Chen told the council the ponds "will definitely be kept very well, potentially be dry ponds" with underground water storage and that a tree study is underway to identify which mature specimens can be retained. Chen said the project relies on leveraging an existing HUD loan so the developer can build the entire phase at once and later sell units to individual homeowners.
Council also asked about parking and the potential for spillover use by the adjacent Oak Ridge Community Arts Center; Chen said the development requested a variance to reduce parking because of density and expects on-street spaces and about 80% of units to have two-car garages.
The council approved the land-use amendment and rezoning on first reading by voice vote (7 ayes). Planning staff noted a second reading/public hearing will be scheduled as required by ordinance.
Next steps: the items will return for the required second reading and public hearing per the city's ordinance schedule.
