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Planning Commission approves Arbor Homes rezoning for 35.5-acre Rainbow Drive site over one dissent
Summary
The Lancaster City Planning Commission voted 3-1 to rezone a 35.506-acre parcel at Rainbow Drive and SR 188 from PUD to R-MD for a proposed Arbor Homes single-family subdivision; residents raised traffic, density and school-capacity concerns, and the developer cited traffic studies and a target starting price near $250,000.
The Lancaster City Planning Commission approved a rezoning request on Oct. 9 that will change a 35.506-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Rainbow Drive and Lancaster-Thornville Road (SR 188), parcel 053-41625-00, from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to Residential Medium Density (R-MD) for a proposed Arbor Homes subdivision.
Drew Miller, agent for Arbor Homes, told the Commission the company aims to provide starter single-family homes and said the market target for entry prices is under $300,000 and closer to $250,000. Miller said Arbor Homes has prepared traffic and engineering studies and anticipates recommendations including a deceleration lane on SR 188.
Several nearby residents opposed the rezoning at the public hearing. Robert Lust said the change could allow duplexes, townhouses and other multi-unit structures and that the proposed lots are smaller than surrounding parcels. Sarah Bird, who said she bought her home on Rainbow Drive about a year ago, raised concerns about increased traffic, accidents and possible changes to the area's rural character; she also asked how utilities would connect to the development. Lindel Jackson and Linda McCormick expressed similar worries about density and safety, and Karen England raised school-capacity concerns.
Planning staff clarified that the R-MD designation under the current code allows single-family homes and does not permit apartments or multi-family structures; staff said the property’s previous RS3/PUD overlay was removed as part of a 2023 zoning-code update and that any specific subdivision plan would require a separate review.
Commission discussion focused on whether the proposed density fits adjacent properties. Commissioner Bob Lovell said he believed the density did not match the area, while Mayor Don McDaniel and others said the rezoning updates the property classification to align with the City’s current zoning map. Commissioner John Sigafoos moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner Sherry Orlando seconded. The motion passed 3-1, with Don McDaniel, Sigafoos and Orlando voting for and Lovell voting against.
The vote approves the rezoning only; specific development plans, utility connections and any road-work recommendations identified in traffic studies will be considered in subsequent Planning and Zoning reviews.
