After much deliberation, the Auburn City Council agreed to approve a settlement with Landmark Properties, the developer of The Standard at Auburn, which will be at the corner of Glenn Avenue and Gay Street.
According to city documents, The Standard at Auburn would be 65 feet high, provide student housing equal to 683 bedrooms and would be available for move-in Aug. 1, 2019.
The council had previously met in several executive sessions to discuss threatened litigation against the city.
A moratorium on new private dormitories was enacted in the city Dec. 15, 2015.
The resolution states Landmark’s right to continue the development and approval process will not be affected by the City of Auburn’s efforts to enforce the moratorium.
Landmark will be granted 18 months from approval to acquire a zoning certificate and 90 days after that to acquire a building permit.
Despite objections voiced by Susan Hunnicutt, public relations organizer for Keep Auburn Lovely, the City Council pressed on with the decision that was proposed in the opening discussion.
“The type of buildings you have in a place does dictate the social order and social culture that you have,” Hunnicutt said. “So if you want to keep on attracting people with hearts and compassion and kindness, then you need to have that small-town feel. You start putting up 75- and 80-foot buildings, you’re gonna attract a different type of person, and you won’t recognize Auburn anymore.”
Tommy Dawson, Ward 8 councilperson, responded to Hunnicutt’s comment concerning the people Auburn attracts.
“You can build a hundred-foot building, you can build a 200 foot building, but you will never ever take away what makes Auburn great, and that’s the people,” Dawson said.
Hunnicutt said the City Council should table the issue for two more weeks to gather more opinions.
Mayor Bill Ham, in coherence with the rest of the City Council, disagreed with Hunnicutt’s opinion to table the settlement and said it would be a bad decision.
“I understand that they’re trying to hold your feet to the fire, and they’re threatening a lawsuit, but still, don’t you think you ought to consider all options and not just react?” Hunnicutt asked.
Ham said no one had “held his feet to the fire” and assured those present that many options and opinions were considered while making the decision to approve the settlement.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
