Florence commission annexes West Palmetto parcel and clears sketch plan for 126‑unit West Haven Townhomes with conditions

The City of Florence Planning Commission voted to annex a roughly 11.67‑acre parcel at 2916 West Palmetto Street and zone it RU (urban residential), a decision that cleared the way for the West Haven Townhomes sketch plan presented later in the meeting.

Planning staff explained the annexation request and said the applicant intends to remove an existing house and construct townhomes. The sketch plan, presented for the same parcel, shows 27 buildings with 4 or 5 townhome units each for a total of 126 units; the plan sets aside 4.27 acres (about 30%) as open space. Staff said the RU district permits townhome development and that city water, sewer and stormwater inspections would be provided upon annexation.

The applicant’s representative and engineer, Bob Weaver, described the plan and said a second access requirement is being met with a recorded easement for a paved emergency access to an adjacent parcel owned by the applicant. Weaver said DOT limited direct access on Palmetto Street to a single curb cut but that the emergency access would be paved to city standards and gated for emergency services if needed. “DOT would only allow 1 access for this property off Palmetto Street,” Weaver said.

Commissioners pressed staff and the engineer on public‑safety and traffic concerns: whether the secondary access would be full vehicular access or limited to emergency use, the width and surfacing of that access, required buffer yards along Bridal Drive and Palmetto, and whether street radii in the sketch plan required variances. The engineer described traffic‑calming measures (stop signs, crosswalks) and said he had adjusted the plan to show the emergency access and required buffer.

After discussion the commission approved annexation and zoning to RU by motion and later took a separate action on the sketch plan. The commission’s sketch‑plan approval included direction that the indicated intersections be treated as intersections (not curve radii) for the purpose of avoiding a formal variance on radii; staff and the applicant must record the access easement and resolve outstanding engineering items (fire hydrant relocation, final access geometry and any required traffic/turning radii) during development‑plan review.

Next steps noted in the meeting: recording the emergency‑access easement, coordinating final geometry with DOT and the fire marshal, and returning the development plan for detailed review and inspections.