Board approves conditional use for High Street multiuse path segment in floodway with permit conditions

The Board of Zoning Appeals on July 23 approved a conditional use to allow development in the floodway and floodway fringe for a segment of the High Street multiuse path at 2101 East Covenanter Drive. Joe Patterson, zoning and long-range planner, told the board staff "found that all the criteria were met" under the Unified Development Ordinance and recommended adoption of the proposed findings and approval with conditions.

Neil Copper of the engineering department said the work is part of the city priority High Street project and uses federal funding and local bond match. He told the board the project team has performed hydraulic analysis and holds an approved no-rise certification: "We have a report from a licensed engineer. We have an approved no rise certification," he said. Petitioner and several residents discussed drainage and mitigation; Jennifer Long, an adjacent property owner, asked the board to condition approval on public availability of a complete no-rise certification and supporting hydraulic/hydrologic study, and on mitigation and erosion-control plans. Copper said the project already has those analyses and will provide them if desired.

The board approved the staff findings and motioned to adopt the conditions that a floodplain development permit and site-development permits must be approved prior to commencing work. The motion to approve ZR2026060032 was moved, seconded and passed 4–0.