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Planning commission recommends rezoning near South 16th Street and Park Avenue to R3 for proposed townhomes
Summary
On Feb. 3 the Norfolk Planning Commission unanimously recommended changing a parcel southwest of South 16th Street and Park Avenue from Office District (OD) to R3 multiple-family residential to allow a proposed 10-unit townhome development; nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, parking and impacts on property values.
The Norfolk Planning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 3 to recommend that the city change zoning for a parcel southwest of the intersection of South 16th Street and Park Avenue from Office District (OD) to R3 Multiple Family Residential, after a developer described plans for a small townhome project and neighbors raised traffic and parking concerns.
Developer Ignasu Machuka of IMP Construction told the commission the lot has been vacant for a long time and that he and partners were planning roughly 10 townhomes. "We would like to do some town homes in the property… probably about 10 of them," Machuka said, and he described preliminary coordination with the city on water, sewer and power and an intention to provide a private road maintained by the homeowners.
Several nearby residents spoke during the public hearing. Sandra Duncan, who said she is the power of attorney for a homeowner on Park Avenue, said she worried new townhomes could depress property values and increase traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times. "Putting 10 more units in there… could be a lot of congestion as well as the size and their parking," Duncan said. Mike Tolken, a resident directly across the tree line, said the proposed layout would feel tight and cautioned that adding units near the school and daycare could exacerbate parking and circulation issues.
Paul Duncan, who said he previously mowed and maintained the property, asked where the private driveway would be sited; staff confirmed the private drive would be on the east side of the property and aligned with the existing tree line. Staff and commissioners emphasized that the hearing considered only the zoning recommendation; specific building plans, street construction and sidewalk requirements would come at the permitting stage if the rezoning proceeds.
After discussion that the parcel appears to fit R3 zoning better than the existing office designation, a commissioner moved to recommend the rezoning to the appropriate decision-making body. The motion carried with all commission members present voting in the affirmative. The record notes staff will continue to examine access, parking and any sidewalk or street-construction requirements as part of future permitting.
