Caldwell approves Aviary Heights PUD and preliminary plat with conditions, including traffic-signal requirement

Caldwell City Council on June 15 unanimously approved the planned unit development (PUD), preliminary plat and development agreement modification for Aviary Heights, a 124.6'acre mixed'use subdivision proposed by Brighton.

The project calls for 305 residential lots (a mix of detached and attached single'family types), 11 commercial lots along Highway 2026, and two quasi'public lots earmarked for a future fire station and a K'12 charter school (GEM Prep). The applicant also proposed a 100'foot'wide linear park bordering the rail line and about 19% open space across the site.

Council added conditions intended to protect long'term service and safety: the approved motion requires engineering coordination for frontage improvements, a note on the final plat or DA acknowledging adjacent industrial operations so buyers are informed, and a traffic mitigation requirement that the Midland/Highway 2026 signal be constructed or otherwise secured before occupancy permits are issued for the subdivision.

"We are fully committed for this school to go in," the applicant said during Q&A, and the fire chief confirmed the donated parcel would be built out as a turnkey station with specifications similar to an existing station to speed deployment.

Staff context: Planning staff found the proposal conforms to city code as a PUD when conditioned; the mix of commercial fronting the arterial meets code expectations for the mixed'use place type, and the developer's donation of the fire station parcel and a future school lot were included as approval conditions.

Next steps: With council approval the applicant will work with city engineering on right'of'way, traffic-signal work with ITD and final plat sign'off; the council recorded the approvals and placed conditions intended to ensure commercial frontage, school and fire facilities occur in tandem with residential buildout.