The Garden City Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 15 recommended city-council approval of SUB FY2025-0004, a subdivision proposal for two parcels at 3921–3933 N. Adams that would create 11 buildable residential lots and one common lot.

Applicant Nick Louie of Urban Design Build told commissioners the project proposes a mix of unit types — "one single family home, one duplex, one triplex, and one fiveplex" — with 27 parking spaces and about 3,200 square feet of shared open space. Louie said the development meets setbacks, height limits and on-site stormwater requirements and that landscaping would exceed minimum code requirements.

Staff highlighted three issues for commissioners to consider: exterior lighting and dark‑sky compliance, façade variety required by new code, and a planned pedestrian circulation route shown in the Old Town Circulation Network. Planner Hannah noted the application had withdrawn its PUD requests so earlier code waivers were void, and she recommended committee discretion to ensure final compliance.

A major point of contention was a 12‑foot public access easement and 10‑foot sidewalk shown along the subdivision's southern property line to provide an east–west pedestrian connection. Louie said the adjacent Riverplace subdivision had not agreed to connect the path and that an easement there would likely "go to nowhere." Several commissioners agreed that a required easement that dead‑ends would not serve the immediate neighborhood and favored removing that condition.

Commissioners also discussed lighting and design details. Hannah explained the code references lumen limits but suggested staff should be allowed to approve lighting plans that meet dark‑sky goals and prevent light trespass rather than a rigid lumen cap. Commissioners asked that color and façade differentiation be resolved in coordination with staff and design review, rather than through a prescriptive condition.

A motion to recommend approval to city council was made with amendments deleting the southern easement/sidewalk requirements in the draft conditions and leaving lighting and façade coordination to staff discretion. The motion passed by voice vote.

The commission's recommendation will go to the Garden City Council for final action on the subdivision.