Council votes 5-0 to continue Sunrise Square preliminary plat to allow fixes

Hyde Park City Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to continue consideration of the Sunrise Square preliminary plat application so the developer can address code deficiencies and coordinate with city staff and legal counsel.

City staff told the council the application contained numerous unresolved issues and that staff "recommend[ed] if we're going to address it tonight that it be denied because it does not meet the codes currently," but also said they lacked authority to unilaterally refuse the filing and preferred to work with the applicant. After discussion about options — denial, applicant withdrawal, or continuance — Council Member Tiffany moved to continue consideration. The motion carried 5-0.

Council and staff noted the planning commission had expressed interest in the project but raised concerns that the submitted plans did not meet current code. Staff said additional legal and regulatory review is underway, including communications between the developer's counsel, the city's legal counsel and the state ombudsman's office. Council members said a continuance will allow those conversations and any plan revisions to be completed before the item returns to the council.

The council did not set a firm return date; staff said they would contact the applicant to determine when the developer is ready to proceed and would report back to the council.