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Council approves modification to Mountain Village conditional zoning after debate over trees, setbacks and stormwater
Summary
Council approved a modification to the Mountain Village conditional zone to reduce a self-imposed front-setback from 25 to 10 feet for parts of the development; staff said at least 25 acres of open space will remain undisturbed and stormwater measures are built into the plan, but one council member voted no.
Council approved a modification to the Mountain Village conditional zoning to reduce a voluntary front setback from 25 feet to 10 feet, a change developers say gives flexibility in designing varied, more affordable housing products on the 89.7-acre project site.
Planner Rob Weed and applicant Theresa Carroll explained the change at a public hearing: the Mountain Village zoning district allows a range of building placement, and the requested change is primarily to allow some lots to be closer to the road where steep topography and grading constraints make deeper setbacks impractical. Carroll and project engineer Eric Hutchison said they limited clearing and will preserve roughly 25 acres of undisturbed open space and keep grading within a stated maximum percentage; they also described an on-site stormwater plan that includes multiple rain gardens and retention features to meet town stormwater rules.
Council members pressed applicants and staff on street-tree planting, sidewalk expectations (staff said the plan uses walking trails rather than sidewalks), and how many of the front-row lots would actually be built to a 10-foot setback versus standard setbacks. Council and the applicant discussed tree spacing, the need to preserve wooded buffers behind lots, and utility extensions that will be expensive but are planned.
Council Member (speaker 11) moved to approve the modification and recited findings that the request was reasonable, in the public interest and consistent with the Woodfin Together comprehensive plan. The motion passed 4–1; one council member (speaker 10) voted no and urged vigilance on tree preservation and lot design during final plan review and phase approval.
Staff said the planning board had unanimously recommended the modification and that project conditions will continue to require the reserved open space, grading limits, and stormwater measures; staff will review individual phase plans to ensure compliance with tree-planting and landscaping requirements when builders submit final plans.
