Planning Commission recommends denial of Lindenwoods Drive final plat, cites failure to match preliminary plan

The Planning Commission recommended denial of a final plat for property near Lindenwoods Drive after members concluded the filing did not substantially conform to the approved preliminary plat.

Staff member Taylor summarized the request and said department heads had signed off on the paperwork but that the developer had combined what had been shown as separate phases. Thomas Tibbetts of Express Development told the commission Lot 2 had been delayed because of water and funding and would remain as green space until funding is available. "We just didn't actually build Lot 2 where we anticipated the building," Tibbetts said.

Several commissioners pressed the developer for a full master plan. One commissioner said the packet showed only two lots of a larger 40-acre development and requested the commission be shown how all phases fit together before a final approval. Commissioner feedback focused on whether combining phases at the final stage created a "substantial change" from the preliminary approval.

A member of the commission moved to deny on the basis of City Code §155.044, citing the code's substantial-conformance requirement: "This is not substantially in conformance with the preliminary plat," the mover said. The motion to deny was seconded and passed on recorded votes by the commissioners present. The Planning Commission noted it is a recommending board; the matter will be forwarded to City Council next Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

The commission's action is a recommendation only; City Council will make the final decision at its next meeting.