Council opens discussion on rezoning near Crossroads; asks for traffic and parking analysis

Council members on June 18 agreed to entertain further study of a proposed rezoning for the southwest corner of the Crossroads area (5766 South and 1900 West), near the vacant 24 Hour Fitness and the Spaghetti Factory.

Staff presented a developer-provided concept showing two residential multifamily buildings with an internal parking structure. Planner Jim Sprung said initial parking estimates would be roughly "one and a half to two spaces per unit," and the presenter described "around 450 units total" in the concept plan. Council members raised concerns about ingress and egress, eastbound access toward Redwood Road, and the existing circulation problems near Target and the former Joann store.

JT (staff) framed the agenda item as a request for direction on whether the council wishes to proceed via the Special Site District (SSD) process or keep the current commercial zoning. JT said, "If you're interested in having the discussion of residential property, this rezone to that, we would work through all of those issues of parking, of traffic control, or traffic directions." Councilors repeatedly emphasized that approving the discussion does not constitute development approval; they described the current step as a courtesy to the potential developer and asked staff to return with detailed analysis of traffic, parking counts, parcel boundaries and ownership issues.

No rezoning or development agreement was approved at the meeting. Council members expressed general interest in further conversations with the owner but required staff and the owner to address traffic and parking red flags before any formal application would be recommended for approval.