Planning commission recommends PUD approval for Zachman Meadows 2nd Addition with added landscaping buffer

The Otsego Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve a rezoning to a Planned Unit Development and the PUD development stage plan and preliminary plat for Zachman Meadows 2nd Addition, voting 6-0 on June 15.

City Planner Daniel Licht presented the planning report for the subdivision and said the proposal otherwise met the conditions listed in the June 10 planning report. Zeke Peters of Landform Professional Services represented the applicant and agreed with the report. During public comment, resident Barb Douglas asked, “what is the anticipated cost of the homes?” and raised concern about lack of maintenance on Outlot A. Licht told the commission that “the builder or the cost of the homes is unknown to the City at this time.”

Chair Alan Offerman said he would like to see additional screening between the new homes and a future industrial area to the north. Commissioner Vern Heidner moved to recommend approval of the zoning map amendment to PUD and the PUD development stage plan and preliminary plat, subject to the 16 conditions in the planning report and an added condition requiring buffer-yard landscaping for rear yards in Block 1; Commissioner Aaron Stritesky seconded. The motion passed, 6-0.

The commission’s added landscaping requirement was written as a revision to the landscape plan and will be subject to approval by the zoning administrator as part of the project conditions. The planning report specifies the 16 baseline conditions; the commission added the buffer requirement as an additional, numbered condition.