Planner outlines 40‑unit Ricco Road proposal with large open‑space commitment

Planning staff described a proposal for just over 100 acres on Ricco Road, with frontage on Capps Ferry Road, that would add 40 new residential units arranged in several clusters and a central civic space intended for community uses.

"They're showing, 80.98 acres, which is just over 80% of the property, as open space and civic space," planning staff said, noting the amount exceeded the code minimum and that entrances were proposed on Ricco Road and Capps Ferry Road. Staff said the plan includes a small nonresidential area of a little over an acre for makerspaces, a gallery, a market and a café.

The planning commission reviewed the project last month and recommended approval with conditions by a unanimous 4–0 vote; staff told council an additional condition added after the packet would require design or site‑plan review if any of the existing visible structures on the property are demolished. Council members asked questions about buffering, existing clearing along Ricco Road, and whether Capps Ferry Road — an unpaved road — could be used as a secondary entrance.

A council member raised concerns about pedestrian connectivity to nearby Serendby and potential crossings of Hutchison Ferry Road; staff said the project's limited unit count (40 total) made it unlikely more than 25 units would use the Capps Ferry entrance regularly and that staff viewed the design as consistent with district expectations. No formal vote occurred; the item was presented as the council's first public hearing of the night for further consideration at the regular meeting.