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Josephine approves two commercial plan‑development rezonings; residents press safety, fencing and traffic concerns
Summary
Council approved rezoning for a 5.535‑acre commercial plan development (Josephine Town Square) and conditionally approved a 7.24‑acre plan development near West Kirk/West Cook by a 4–1 vote after residents raised safety, lighting and traffic concerns and requested a 6–8 foot wall.
The Josephine City Council approved two separate plan‑development (PD) zoning changes at its Aug. 12 meeting, endorsing commercial development while also acknowledging neighborhood concerns.
The council unanimously approved rezoning 5.535 acres from agricultural to PD for Josephine Town Square, a mixed commercial and local‑retail plan the applicant described as flexible to attract restaurants, retail and service businesses. Ryan Roseborough of AGCM introduced Ethel Huggins as the project’s new day‑to‑day contact and presented a monthly status report on construction activity related to other city projects.
Later, the council heard extended public comment on a second zoning request for roughly 7.24 acres at 707 West Kirk/West Cook. Residents said the proposed development could bring large delivery trucks to a single exit on Sebastian Lane, increase noise and light intrusion, and create safety risks for children who play in nearby yards. Jerry Miller told the council he was “very concerned about the size of the construction” and described traffic and lighting worries; another resident, Rebecca, said she and neighbors had gathered 109 signatures asking the developer to build a 6–8‑foot masonry wall on the east side of Sebastian Lane if the project proceeds.
The developer, who identified himself as Jag with Josephine Town Square, said the project team revised access points (moving an entrance to the north side with an access easement off Cook Street and adjusting other exits) and removed certain uses (for example, a car wash) after planning‑and‑zoning discussions. Jag said the developer would explore a masonry wall in consultation with the HOA and engineering reviewers and intends to set high development standards.
After the discussion and a staff check on minor map discrepancies with the county appraisal district, the council conditionally approved the 7.24‑acre rezoning to PD by a 4–1 vote. Council directed staff to verify CAD boundary alignment and to confirm the final ordinance language and exhibits before finalization.
The vote advances both projects to the next permitting and site‑plan review steps; any detailed site‑plan approvals, drainage and access engineering will be reviewed separately by staff and, where required, by planning and zoning.
