Planning commission approves PUD amendment to allow roughly 90 apartments in North 40 Plaza

The Lincoln–Lancaster County Planning Commission voted 6-0 on July 8 to approve an amendment to the North 40 Plaza Planned Unit Development to permit roughly 90 additional apartment units on a roughly 3-acre lot in the North 84th/Adams area.

Steve Henrickson of the Planning Department told commissioners the proposal converts underused commercial land within the PUD to residential and ‘‘fits in with our goals for the comprehensive plan to have a mix of uses within any neighborhood,’’ and the department recommended approval. Henrickson noted apartments are an allowed use in the B-2 zoning district and the proposal does not change the 55-foot height limit.

The applicant, Tim Gergen of Clark Anderson, said commercial demand in the PUD has lagged for years and that the proposed apartment building would occupy an unsold 3-acre lot. Gergen said a 30,000-square-foot retail buildout would have generated considerably more evening peak traffic than the proposed multifamily use, estimating the 90 units would produce about 56 PM peak trips—‘‘about a 32% reduction’’ compared with typical retail—and that the project plans roughly 150 parking stalls, or about 1.7 stalls per unit by his estimate.

Neighbors who testified opposed the scale, parking and traffic impacts. Gerald Gokin of 2730 Regent Place said a ‘‘4 story 90 unit’’ building on a 3-acre lot is ‘‘just really too big of a transition’’ next to existing townhomes, and asked the commission to consider a smaller, three-story building of about 45 units. Bill Reichardt, president of the Regent Place homeowners association, said parking overflow onto Regent Drive—privately maintained in parts by nearby owners—was his primary concern. Multiple residents asked the city to consider additional street lighting or a traffic signal at nearby approaches if traffic increases.

Commissioners questioned staff about parking rules on private streets, whether the city can restrict parking where public access easements exist, and how traffic-signal warrants are evaluated. Henrickson explained that the townhome cul-de-sac (Regent Place) is owned by a homeowners association but carries a public access easement that limits restricting on-street parking; he also said Regent Drive (which becomes North 83rd) is a wider commercial-style street that typically allows parking on both sides. He added that traffic-signal installation is determined by Lincoln Transportation and Utilities warrants and that no signal had been required at the nearby intersections at present.

After questions and applicant rebuttal, a commissioner moved to approve change of zone 06063C; the motion was seconded and passed 6-0. The commission’s action is a recommendation to the City Council and/or county board as appropriate.

The commission approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and adjourned following the vote.