Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Site Plan Townhomes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commissioners question open-space calculations for 63-unit townhome proposal
Summary
A proposed 63-unit townhome project prompted lengthy debate over what counts as required open space under the city—ode; commissioners asked for ordinance text and engineering clarifications before final action and temporarily withdrew a motion to deny.
Staff presented a site plan for 63 townhome units on about 6.04 acres in an R-4 zone, saying the applicant had resubmitted materials on Nov. 18 that addressed most outstanding staff comments.
Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff to explain how the 30% open-space requirement for multifamily developments is calculated. Speaker 8 summarized the code language the commission was using and listed the standards: at least 30% gross-project-area open space, with at least 50% of that set aside as usable or active open space located within a quarter mile of dwelling units. Speaker 4 and other commissioners flagged uncertainty about whether required setbacks, stormwater ponds, mail kiosks and buffer yards are excluded from that calculation.
Multiple commissioners said the city—ode nd PUD definitions in Article 2 need clearer wording so applicants and staff are applying the same standard. Speaker 6, an architect/designer, said setbacks and buffer yardage are typically not counted as usable open space because they serve functional purposes such as drainage and fire separation. Speaker 9 recommended staff read the current ordinance language aloud for the record so the commission could base a decision on the explicit text.
After discussion about drainage, stormwater injection wells, and construction-phase items that can be handled later, a commissioner moved to deny the plan citing green-space definitions and compatibility concerns. That motion was withdrawn to allow more discussion while staff provides the specific ordinance language and the applicant clarifies open-space line work and setback calculations. Commissioners did not take a final vote on the site plan at this meeting.
Next steps: staff will supply the ordinance/sub-regulation text and the applicant may provide an updated plan that clarifies which areas are counted as open or active space. The commission left the item open for further review rather than issuing a final approval or denial.
