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Council approves Oak Ridge site-plan modification after parking concerns raised
Summary
The Newton City Council approved Plan Modification #2020-03 to revise the Oak Ridge development from the originally approved unit mix to a revised layout meeting R-7 recreation-space and parking requirements after public concerns about parking; vote 4–2.
The Newton City Council on Nov. 10 approved Plan Modification #2020-03, allowing a revised Oak Ridge residential site plan that increases dwelling units from the original approval and adjusts unit sizes and parking, after residents raised concerns about parking adequacy.
Planner Alex Fulbright told the council the property is zoned PD-H with R-7 standards and was originally approved in 2005 for 38 units. The developer, Century Complete, initially proposed increasing the total number of units to 43 with smaller individual units (about 1,500–1,700 square feet) and later revised the plan to 42 units to add additional parking. Fulbright said the revised plan meets the city’s minimum recreation-space requirement provided the developer formally designates the required open space.
Resident Jon Venable of 1490 Mulberry Ridge Drive urged council to reject the revised plan, saying the development would lack adequate parking. “There still would not be adequate parking,” Venable said, and he added he did “not believe the plan is in the best interest of Newton and its residents.”
Century Complete representative Glenn Bird responded that the revised plan increases parking above the ordinance minimum: “There are 2 spaces per unit which is 2.34 spaces overall and is 25% over minimum requirements,” Bird said, noting the developer added overflow spaces and slightly reduced unit count to increase parking capacity.
Council discussion noted staff’s recommendation to approve the revised site plan conditioned on meeting the R-7 recreation-area standard. After a motion made by Council Member Jerry Hodge and seconded by Council Member Anne Wepner, the council approved the plan modification with Council Members Anne Wepner, Jody Dixon, Jerry Hodge and Beverly Danner voting in favor and Mayor Pro Tem John Stiver and Council Member Ed Sain voting against.
The approval was recorded as a formal resolution and the ordinance documents and plans were entered on file with the city clerk. The council’s action does not rezone the property; it amends the previously approved PD-H development plan. The city record shows the Planning Commission forwarded the plan with a negative recommendation after earlier parking concerns, but staff indicated the October 30 revised plan addressed many of those concerns.
