Planning board recommends against Stonefield Townhomes special‑use permit after residents raise traffic, drainage and density concerns

The Swansea Planning & Zoning Board on Jan. 6 voted to recommend denial of a special‑use permit for a proposed townhome development at 4480 Beaverton, after residents pressed the applicant and staff on traffic, drainage and density concerns.

Staff described the submission as a special‑use application under section 1‑54.2.13 and said the packet met the minimal code requirements for that process. "Staff has reviewed the application, finds it in conformance with 1‑54.2.13, and recommends a positive recommendation from the planning and zoning board," the planning staff member said. The developer’s engineer, Seth of Minermeier Engineering, told the board the plan is a preliminary concept that would be refined in later submittals.

The bulk of the hour‑long public‑comment period was taken by nearby homeowners who said drawings look like multifamily rentals rather than townhomes, questioned whether units would be owner‑occupied, and said the neighborhood already suffers traffic and drainage problems. "They were not going to use our road to bring their heavy equipment," a resident said, adding, "We've been lied to." Patrick, who co‑owns the strip center fronting the site, told the board an internal roadway shown on the plan would run through his property and asked for berms or a privacy fence to prevent overflow parking.

The applicant said the current plan shows 57 units (the application lists as many as 62) and that parking and stormwater design would be addressed in later engineering submittals. "This is a preliminary concept plan for zoning," Seth said, and he offered to pursue more detailed traffic and drainage studies if the project moves forward.

Board members questioned whether special‑use review (rather than a zoning change) was appropriate and whether a reduced unit count could address neighborhood concerns. One member suggested 40 units as a possible compromise; the applicant said density could be adjusted in later design iterations but that the parcel could also revert to business uses if the residential proposal fails.

After discussion the board member moved to decline the application and the board voted in favor of a negative recommendation to the board of trustees. Staff reminded residents that the trustees will hold a public hearing on Jan. 20 where the trustees may accept, deny or table the application.

Next steps: the planning staff will transmit the board’s negative recommendation and the application packet to the board of trustees for a Jan. 20 public hearing. If trustees table the item they may request additional studies; if trustees approve the special use, subsequent civil and drainage design will be reviewed administratively.