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Planning commission approves Caligny Circle pocket park, widening multiuse path
Summary
The planning commission approved PPR-001137-2024 to create a passive pocket park adjacent to Coligny Plaza, widen the existing multiuse path from 8 to 12 feet, and reshape the existing dry stormwater pond into a bioretention feature; the vote was unanimous.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve public project review PPR-001137-2024, a proposal to create the Caligny Circle Pocket Park adjacent to Coligny Plaza and widen the existing multiuse pathway.
Trey Lau, interim development services program manager, told commissioners the project would replace an existing 8-foot path with a 12-foot multiuse pathway to better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles and provide new accessible connections between the path and adjacent retail. He said the plan would reconfigure the existing dry retention pond as a bioretention stormwater feature with indigenous planting and interpretive signage and would create passive civic space rather than active recreation.
Trey Griffin of Wooden Partners, the applicant, addressed questions about the existing basin. Griffin said seasonal groundwater is too high to fill the basin completely, so the project will reshape it to hold equal or greater stormwater volume while improving aesthetics and planting. "It's gonna be reshaped to hold the same stormwater volume, but in a user-friendly way that improves the aesthetics of the circle," Griffin said.
Commissioners pressed applicants on whether the project is focused on pedestrian connectivity rather than recreation; a commissioner noted the design is intended as a passive park and not for lawn games. Staff confirmed that significant specimen oaks will be preserved where feasible and that any trees removed will be replaced per LMO plant-back requirements.
Staff framed the proposal within the town's comprehensive plan and cited Land Management Ordinance provisions used to evaluate compatibility. According to staff, the project met public-notice requirements and the LMO official determination found the application compatible with the comprehensive plan for location, character and extent.
Chair Seabell closed the public hearing after no members of the public spoke, and a commissioner moved to approve the application. The motion passed by unanimous voice/hand vote. The transcript does not record a numeric roll-call tally.
Next steps: staff and the applicant will proceed with final project steps as permitted by the LMO findings and the commission's approval.
