Commission approves Metro Health Village PUD changes to allow gyms and 156 housing units; site plan approved with parking waiver request granted

The Wyoming Planning Commission on Dec. 17 approved major amendments to the Metro Health Village overall development plan and a companion site plan for three parcels inside the PUD, allowing gyms and additional housing and granting staff‑recommended site approvals with conditions.

Paul, planning staff, described the PUD as a 166‑acre healthcare district centered on U of M Health West. Staff recommended permitting gyms, fitness and wellness centers up to 3,000 square feet in District D and increasing the maximum residential units from 120 to 156 after consultation with the developer, hospital and city engineering staff. “They can be served by the existing utilities,” Paul said, explaining the engineering office and the hospital support the additional units.

Developer design architect James Scharbe (Spaceworks, a division of Granger Group) said a tenant is ready for a health center in an existing building and that the team coordinated with the city’s engineers and fire marshal on the residential phase. Scharbe described architectural continuity with prior phases and said the project aims to serve hospital staff and integrate with on‑site amenities.

On the site‑plan item, staff reported the existing development provides 212 parking spaces and the proposed buildings would provide 217, while the site requirement was 252 spaces. To accommodate shared and staggered demand and transit access via the Madison rapid bus line, staff asked the commission to waive 35 parking spaces. Paul said on‑street parking and transit access reduce peak parking conflicts and the proposal also connects buildings to internal sidewalks and emergency access approved by the fire marshal.

Commissioners asked about ADA parking counts and winter street parking. The developer said ADA spaces follow the ordinance and noted that roads inside the PUD are private and thus not subject to the city's odd/even public street parking restrictions; staff confirmed that private roads are exempt from the city's odd/even rule. On construction costs the developer said they were “targeting around $2 a square foot.”

Commissioner Hall moved and Commissioner Smart seconded the motion to amend the ODP and to approve the site plan for the three parcels (2360 Health Drive SW; 2252 Health Drive SW; 5805/5808 Village Drive SW) subject to the staff conditions referenced in the packet; the commission approved both motions on roll call. Staff will require final engineering sign‑offs, stormwater documentation and implementation of the agreed conditions before certificates of occupancy.