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Planning commission defers Hill Pointe rezoning after tie and chair recusal; developer pledges road widening
Summary
The La Verne Planning Commission deferred a decision on rezoning 50.65 acres for the Hill Pointe development after an impasse and a chair recusal. The developer publicly committed to widen Old Nashville Highway to the Smyrna line and install a traffic signal, but commissioners asked for more concrete agreements before recommending approval.
The La Verne Planning Commission voted to defer consideration of a rezoning request for the 50.65-acre Hill Pointe property on Old Nashville Highway after a tied outcome and a recusal by the chair.
Planner Logan presented the request to change the parcel (tax map 28 parcel 14) from R-2 to R-3 and showed the developer's prototype plan for 618 dwelling units — 528 apartments and 90 townhomes — with neighborhood commercial at the frontage. Staff emphasized that architectural details are illustrative and that variances or detailed mitigation measures would be considered at the site-plan stage, not with a straight zoning decision. City engineering noted the traffic study recommends a 125-foot northbound left-turn lane and dedication of right-of-way for future widening, but does not require immediate full widening in its recommendations.
Resident Sarah Andre told the commission during public comment she opposes rezoning because of traffic on Old Nashville Highway: "I can't handle 500 cars on Old Nashville Road right now." Commissioners raised similar concerns about narrow lanes, shoulders and school impacts, noting traffic-generation assumptions and parking shortfalls could strain infrastructure and services.
Developer representative Marcus Weidower told the commission the project will not proceed without roadway work and that the developer will pay for widening and a signal: "we cannot and will not build this development without widening that road" and "we're gonna put a red light, and we're gonna widen the road all the way down to Smyrna." Staff said such commitments can be formalized through an agreement but reminded the commission that the rezoning vote itself is limited to zoning and that site-plan and agreement details come later.
A motion for a favorable recommendation failed after a recorded opposition and the chair recused himself because of neighborhood property ties. A later motion for an unfavorable recommendation also failed. The commission then voted to defer the item for one month to allow additional negotiation and documentation of mitigation commitments.
The item will return to the planning commission next month where commissioners indicated they expect to see clearer, enforceable commitments regarding road widening, signalization and parking mitigation before recommending approval to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
