Commission approves Yellow Tree Apartments PUD, but raises pedestrian-safety and outreach concerns

The Cottage Grove Planning Commission voted 3-1 on Dec. 15 to recommend approval of a planned unit development, site plan review and preliminary plat for Yellow Tree Development’s proposed 186-unit Yellow Tree Apartments on East Point Douglas Road.

Senior planner Sam Perrette told commissioners the site is constrained by a conservation easement and steep topography, which led the applicant to request PUD flexibilities including reduced corner-lot setbacks (10 feet requested vs. 20 feet required), a building height that reaches about 77 feet at the highest portion (staff noted a measured height of approximately 74 feet under certain parapet calculations), and a modest reduction of required parking (proposal of 297 spaces where 298 were required; staff recommended a 1.58 spaces-per-unit ratio).

Perrette said the applicant would be required to hold a neighborhood meeting at the Legends Apartments before the City Council considers the project, and that any concerns raised would be included in the council packet. The plan proposes a six-story building with two levels of below-grade covered parking and connections to an existing trail easement; staff described required stormwater and retaining-wall plans, screening, and mitigation measures.

Developer Rob Lubinow acknowledged the site’s complexity and said the project has undergone numerous iterations to limit disturbance and preserve the conservation easement. Lubinow said the design uses alternative cladding materials to balance cost and durability and that the parking arrangement and internal ramping would enable double-level underground parking in the hillside configuration.

Several commissioners raised pedestrian-safety concerns about the East Point Douglas and Hardwood Avenue intersection. Assistant city engineer Crystal Raleigh said sight distances and the existing curvature make some crossings unsafe and pointed to a new signal installed at a nearby intersection as the safer crossing. Commissioner Seckman said the prospect of additional pedestrian trips from 186 units merits careful mitigation and said he remained concerned that the project would place residents in a location with limited safe crossing options.

Commissioner Fisher moved to approve the site plan review, PUD, and preliminary plat subject to staff stipulations; Commissioner Bhatt seconded. The motion passed 3-1. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for consideration on Feb. 18, 2026. Staff reiterated that a neighborhood meeting at the Legends Apartments is required before council consideration, and that the council packet will include a summary of that meeting.