Council approves rezoning to allow duplexes at 5400 Ridgeline Drive amid resident infrastructure concerns

The City Council voted to rezone approximately 2.59 acres at 5400 Ridgeline Drive from agricultural open space and single-family to medium density, a change the applicant says will allow duplexes and townhomes and that staff and planning commissions recommended for approval.

Multiple residents raised concerns that the area lacks infrastructure to support increased density and that traffic conditions are already difficult. "The infrastructure is not in place and it's a troubling thing that I keep hearing," resident Tammy Fogle told the council. She said additional housing without prepared streets and intersections will burden residents and asked the council to give more consideration to infrastructure before approving density increases.

The applicant's agent, Tal, said utilities are available and sized appropriately, described surrounding land uses and noted that medium density is a transitional zoning appropriate between more intense uses and single-family neighborhoods. Tal said rezoning to MD would likely yield a similar unit count to an RS6 development and that the property's geometry limits extreme density.

Council moved and voted to approve the measure; the transcript recorded the vote as all yeses. The rezoning permits future development proposals under medium-density standards; staff will evaluate site-specific design, infrastructure needs and permitting requirements during the development review process.

What happens next: Developers seeking to build duplexes or townhomes will submit site plans and permits that staff will review for infrastructure and traffic requirements; residents said they will monitor future permitting actions.