Dublin planning commission approves Monterey Square preliminary plan, citing traffic and cemetery buffering to be refined

The Dublin Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday approved the Monterey Square preliminary development plan, a 6.86‑acre mixed‑use project proposed for both sides of Monterey Drive, voting in favor of the plan with 11 conditions intended to resolve outstanding design, traffic and landscape issues.

The applicant team — represented at the hearing by Mark Wood and Tyler Poole of the Wood Companies — described the proposal as a 140,000‑square‑foot village‑style, pedestrian‑focused development centered on a public plaza and a masonry parking structure hidden behind retail and office buildings. "We're 10x‑ing that for public space," Tyler Poole said, highlighting the project's emphasis on an expanded town square and new green space.

Staff recommended approval at the preliminary stage while identifying items that still require refinement before final approval. Bassem Buttar, a city staff member, told the commission the project meets most PDP criteria but flagged issues to be resolved later in the process, including code waivers for block length and building height, further study of lot coverage and parking details, and articulation of elevations abutting the cemetery and adjacent neighborhoods. "The preliminary indication is [a traffic] signal is warranted," staff said about the Monterey‑Bridge Street intersection, noting the study remains under review.

Why it matters: The commission's approval allows the applicant to move forward toward final development plan review and permitting, but it does not finalize the plat, which must go to city council. The discussion identified immediate community priorities — traffic mitigation at the Bridge Street/Monterey intersection, preserving and augmenting tree canopy along the cemetery edge, and refining garage and back‑of‑building elevations to reduce blank walls visible from historic properties.

Commissioners spent hours questioning the applicant and staff about specific design elements and public‑realm connections. Staff and the applicant explained that the east edge of the site would include an approximately 18‑foot unbuildable buffer intended to protect cemetery trees and that the applicant has proposed dedicating 0.75 acres of land to the city for potential future cemetery expansion. Staff warned that some mature trees may be removed for site geometry and parking needs but urged maximizing tree preservation where feasible.

Neighborhood speakers expressed conditional support but pressed for traffic and pedestrian safety measures. Nicole Salva, speaking for Waterford Village, said the community survey showed strong support for the design but warned, "We don't think any development or project can go here without a light at Monterey and Bridge Street 161." Other residents asked for a secondary exit option to reduce cut‑through traffic on neighborhood streets and for improved crosswalks near the park and schools.

The commission also debated the Bridge Street elevation and building material palette. Some commissioners urged closer alignment with the Bridge Street District historic transition standards; others supported a slightly different, higher‑character gateway treatment on Bridge Street that the applicant proposed. Commissioners directed staff and the applicant to work together on articulation, blank‑wall treatments and public‑art coordination with the Dublin Arts Commission as part of final plan refinements.

Action taken: A motion to approve the Monterey Square preliminary development plan with 11 conditions passed unanimously (recorded yes votes: Miss Dammeser, Mister Garvin, Mister Alexander, Mister Wei, Mister Chenock, Mister Deshler and Miss Harder). The commission noted the vote clears the preliminary review and that final development plan approval will return to the commission while the plat must be considered by city council.

Next steps: Staff and the applicant will continue work on the conditions (detailed design refinements, parking and drive‑aisle dimensions, tree preservation measures, articulation of elevations, and coordination on traffic/corridor improvements). The applicant will return with a final development plan and a parking plan that documents shared parking, exemptions and peak‑hour analysis; the plat is required to proceed to city council for dedication and final subdivision approval.