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Neighbors press council on traffic, tree preservation as Riverview RPUD heads to third reading
Summary
Residents near the proposed Riverview by Berlin RPUD told council they fear added traffic, loss of tree cover and insufficient buffering from a proposed 83-acre residential PUD; staff recommended approval with conditions and required a traffic impact study prior to development plan stage.
Residents from River By Estates and nearby neighborhoods raised traffic and tree-preservation concerns during the public hearing on a proposed Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD) for about 83.4 acres between Pollock Road and Berlin Station Road.
Planning staff said the rezoning aligns with the Southeast Focus Area Plan and recommended approval with several conditions, noting that a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) must be submitted prior to a development plan application. “The TIS is required to be submitted prior to the development plan,” Planning staff said, adding the city will work with county engineers on any off-site improvements. Neighbors voiced worries that extending River By Lane would create safety issues on an already narrow, on-street-parking road.
Connie Shearer (Riverview) told council the new subdivision could add roughly 225 homes and an estimated 450 cars and asked that the River By connection be limited to emergency access. “We’re really concerned about the traffic on that road … it’s hard to maneuver already,” she said. Paul Elder and other residents echoed concerns about buffers, tree preservation and how existing stubbed roads were originally intended to limit traffic.
Planning staff said tree preservation will be required within the buffer areas and along stream corridors, and that the development plan stage will determine interior road layouts, lot sizes and the final mitigation measures. Council moved the zoning request to a third reading so outstanding questions about access, the TIS and tree-preservation language can be resolved.
