Cross Plains board approves final plat for Marshstone Phase 1 with conditions after lengthy rezoning debate

The Village of Cross Plains on Monday approved the final plat for the Mark Stone Phase 1 subdivision but attached conditions that the village will not sign or record the plat until construction documents and the development’s covenants are finalized.

The action follows several hours of discussion about multiple zoning map amendments tied to the final plat for the former Plastic Ingenuity property, which included requests to rezone several groupings of lots to DR‑6 and SR‑5, establishment of plan development zoning to allow reduced corner-lot setbacks, and a rezoning of public outlots to conservancy for stormwater management. Trustees moved and approved the final plat with the explicit condition that the village will not sign or record the plat until outstanding construction-plan comments and revised covenants are resolved.

Board members, staff and the developer’s team spent much of the meeting parsing technical details: stormwater flows and a 200‑year storm analysis, precise locations for wet and dry stormwater facilities, and where runoff will discharge. Staff and engineer Brian told trustees that modeling shows existing watershed routing will generally remain east‑to‑west and that the plat’s stormwater facilities are designed to convey the required 200‑year event; outlets and overflow routing were discussed at length to reassure residents that the new grading would not worsen off‑site drainage.

Trustees also debated streetscape elements and design standards. A contested policy question centered on an internal multiuse path: parks commissioners had recommended some 8‑foot path segments while engineers and other trustees argued for a consistent 10‑foot width through higher‑use corridors for maintenance and bicycle/pedestrian capacity. The board asked staff to return with a recommendation and cost estimate before construction documents are finalized.

The proposed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) generated multiple objections from trustees and residents. Topics that will be revised and returned to the board include solar‑installation language (whether roof‑mounted solar should be allowed by-right or require ACC approval), whether CC&Rs may ban chickens or ducks when village code allows them, restrictions on temporary and political signs, metal‑roof approval rules, and rules around clotheslines and fence types. A motion to approve the CC&Rs failed to receive a second; trustees instead voted to postpone CC&R approval to a later meeting so the document can be reworked.

The board approved several technical waivers and motions tied to the plat: a waiver allowing lot sizes smaller than the typical 9,600 square feet, and a waiver permitting payment of fees in lieu of parkland dedication under section 83.12 of the subdivision code. The board also took a vote to reduce the number of required signed setbacks on certain corner lots to 13 feet, a change that drew at least one recorded no vote.

Public comment included a lengthy statement from resident Jeff Davis, who said he was not opposed to development itself but strongly objected to the traffic pattern and to unspecified accessory uses tied to a proposed golf course on the site. “I’m not against your development,” Davis said. “I’m against your traffic flow,” and urged the board to revisit access points from Airport Road and Tennessee Street.

The board’s conditional approval preserves the village’s ability to require final engineering approvals and revisions to CC&Rs before any parcels are recorded or sold. The developer’s team and village staff agreed to return with revised construction documents and a new CC&R draft for board consideration at a future meeting.