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Committee postpones Sir Barton Way multifamily rezoning over access and connectivity concerns
Summary
Staff recommended disapproval of a proposed R4 multifamily rezoning for roughly 4.7 acres because the site lacks public street frontage and depends on a single private access easement; the applicant asked for more time and the committee voted unanimously to postpone.
Planning staff presented PLN MAR 26-12 on May 7, a request to rezone approximately 4.7 acres near Sir Barton Way to R4 for medium-density multifamily development. Jeremy Young told the committee the site is landlocked with no public street frontage, depends on a single private access easement for vehicular, pedestrian and emergency access, and therefore cannot provide the block structure or multimodal connectivity the comprehensive plan calls for. Young recommended disapproval.
Applicant counsel and designer (Murphy and RAK Properties) said revisions were submitted and the team had reduced the unit count from 100 to 99 to avoid a second-access requirement, described site grading and screening strategies, and noted outreach to nearby stakeholders including the YMCA and an adjacent developer who retained limited design sign-off. The applicants argued the planned buildings could be oriented to provide context-sensitive transitions to the surrounding area.
Commissioners expressed concern about access adequacy for emergency services, internal pedestrian connectivity and whether the shared access easement was sufficient for residential intensity. After discussion the committee voted unanimously to postpone the item to allow staff to review revised materials and to give the applicant time to coordinate additional details.
Next steps: applicant to file revised development plan and staff will reassess access, connectivity and serviceability for a future hearing.
