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Planning commission approves and forwards Union Depot "First Edition" master plan with conditions
Summary
The Bar Planning Commission voted unanimously on May 4, 2026, to forward a positive recommendation for the Union Depot "First Edition" master plan, a 34.2‑acre mixed‑use project proposing 387 dwelling units; staff recommended approval with an amended engineering condition on ADA sidewalk termination.
On May 4, 2026, the Bar Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation for the Union Depot “First Edition” master plan, a 34.2‑acre residential mixed‑use development at the northeast corner of Highway 70 and Highway 64.
Staff told the commission it had reviewed the outline plan and recommended approval with conditions, including an engineering change to condition 30 clarifying that the northern terminus of the sidewalk shall meet all ADA requirements. "Staff has reviewed this application and the plans and recommend approval with conditions," staff told the commission.
The project, as presented by William Sautell of Parker Estus and Associates on behalf of the developer and property owner, would be developed in five phases and proposes a total of 387 dwelling units. The applicant said the project would include about 200 mixed‑use lofts, 160 residential flats and 27 townhomes, ground‑floor commercial space in mixed‑use buildings, a stormwater detention area to buffer adjacent commercial neighbors, common open spaces, a 60‑foot‑wide green belt and streetscape buffers ranging from 10 to 30 feet. Sewer service would use underground sewer infrastructure installed with the earlier Union Depot development.
When a commissioner asked whether a previously proposed grocery store remained part of the plan, Sautell said the grocery proposal had withdrawn and the team was still seeking a grocer but had no firm update: "The store that we had has withdrawn. We're still looking for a grocery store. We don't know what's going to happen with that just yet," he said.
A commissioner clarified that the commission's approval was an approval of the master plan and, as presented during the meeting, would not go to the board of mayor and alderman.
A motion to forward the plan with a positive recommendation passed on a roll call vote with all commissioners present voting "yes." The commission recorded the vote and moved the master plan forward subject to the staff conditions and the stated engineering amendment.
Next steps include design‑level review: several speakers noted this was a master plan (outline plan) and that detailed site plan approvals, including final decisions about fences and other site features, will be addressed in later design review procedures.
