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Residents urge Council to block four‑story, 65‑unit Gilborn apartment proposal
Summary
Neighbors told the Planning and Community Development Committee they oppose a proposed four‑story, 65‑unit apartment complex in Gilborn, citing drainage and utility upgrades, lack of transit, traffic safety and school capacity concerns. Residents asked the city to require lower height and stronger community engagement.
Residents and neighborhood leaders urged the Planning and Community Development Committee on Jan. 27 to oppose a proposed four‑story, 65‑unit apartment project in the Gilborn area, saying the development would strain local infrastructure and erode neighborhood character.
"Estamos aquí en oposición para la construcción del el complejo de departamentos en Gilborn, porque lo están construyendo atrás de mi cerca," said David Martínez during the public‑comment period, adding concerns about water and drainage upgrades and asking who would pay for required infrastructure improvements.
Johns McCartz, who identified himself as president of Branch Station West, said the neighborhood is already contending with heavy traffic and safety risks and asked the city to limit the proposed building height. "Podrían tener 65 unidades en 4 pisos... Tenemos más 285 firmas de dueños de viviendas que están en contra de este edificio de 4 pisos," he said, citing a petition he described as more than 285 signatures.
Laura Butterfield, vice president of a neighborhood association, told the committee the developer excluded neighbors from planning and recommended redesigning the proposal to two stories, adding pedestrian connections and a community interface. "Si ustedes van a querer poner más viviendas accesibles... tienen que mejorar y ver a las personas que lo necesiten," she said.
A resident who identified himself in the record as James (called during roll), said the new complex would harm privacy, increase noise and create traffic hazards for households immediately adjacent to the site.
Committee members did not take formal action on the specific Gilborn proposal at the meeting. Staff and councilmembers encouraged affected residents to attend an upcoming community meeting and said staff will continue outreach with the developer and neighborhood representatives.
The committee set its next meeting for Feb. 24; no date for a vote on the Gilborn project was set at the Jan. 27 meeting.
