Amidst many messages of gratitude from the public as most of the Auburn City Council members had their final meeting Tuesday, several citizens addressed the Council with concerns over a Glenn Avenue townhouse construction, a rezoning proposal and a potential Webster Road connectivity project.
Glenn Avenue townhouses project
The Council clashed with builder David Walker over parking design in a proposed triplex of townhouses to be constructed at 620 E Glenn Ave. Walker originally planned to build his condos, which he said will have front and roof-top patios, set back from the road with parking in front. However, the city planning commission voted 7-2 in favor of a proposal that the townhouses have rear parking. This would set the buildings closer to the street, with the east buffer yard reduced from 15 to zero feet, and the west one from 15 to 10 feet.
Walker was concerned about noise and proximity to the street under the planning commissions proposed design.
“I can’t justify building half a million dollar units [with] master bedrooms that could potentially be fifteen feet from the back of the curb,” said Walker. “That’s reckless.”
Planning Director Forrest Cotten said at the meeting that houses with parking in the back are much more aesthetically appealing.
“Anybody can drive by townhouses that are front-loaded and ones that are rear-loaded and they can tell you in five seconds, if they’re being honest, which is the better product,” said Cotten. “There’s no question.”
Rear parking is not currently a requirement for all townhomes in Auburn, but a matter of conditional use that the planning commission is requiring in Walker’s case.
“I think that’s frustrating,” said Walker. “If that’s the case, it just needs to become a requirement sooner than later and that way we can establish what we all want to see.”
Cotten said they have considered making rear parking a requirement in townhouses, as it’s the better option. Walker had already tabled the construction for two months, and said he would be willing to do so longer to wait for the commission to change their stipulations. However, the commission had told him they wouldn’t waver on their decision. Cotten also said that was unlikely to happen.
The Council voted unanimously to pass the conditional use proposal, requiring Walker to design his townhomes according to the Planning Commissions specifications.
Riverwood Drive property rezoning
Patrick Greene, a citizen at the meeting, expressed concern over a proposed rezoning from rural to development district housing of an approximately 10-acre property located east of Riverwood Drive and west of Champions Boulevard.
Development company Mitchell-Cope requested the rezoning in order to develop single family residence housing on the property. Greene was worried that rezoning the property would eventually lead to a road being constructed to connect Riverwood Drive and Champions Boulevard.
“I’ve talked to many of my neighbors,” Greene said. “We’re all very concerned about this potential, because Riverwood Drive cannot bear that type of traffic that would be added to the road.”
Cotten said, at some point, a road would be needed.
“The issue of connectivity in a case like this is typically going to be desirable for the city and recommended by the city,” said Cotten. “It’s also equally typical that residents do not want that connectivity, but there are a number of larger reasons why we pursue that.”
In order to pass the rezoning proposal, the Council had to vote unanimously on it. Councilman Beth Witten denied unanimous consent, which moved the item to the next Council meeting.
Webster Road connector project
Citizen Beverly Webster of 2520 Martin Luther King Drive confronted the City Council about a Webster Road project proposal on the agenda. The proposal authorized a contract with Sain Associates to study the best route for a connecting roadway from Martin Luther King Drive to Richland Road that the city is considering constructing. Webster’s property is situated in the path of a potential road.
“It’s my concern as to which way you plan to go with a connectivity,” said Webster. “It is my farm, my restaurant, my barns, my houses, me and my cows that sit across the road from Webster Road.”
City Manager Jim Buston said that the best route for a connecting road would be right through Webster’s property. He said that the proposal on the agenda, though, only involved a study and no decisions yet.
“Ok it is a study,” said Webster. “But I will be informed and hopefully informed that you’re not going to try to come through my property. Because I’m not going to be happy I can tell you.”
Other business
The Council moved to authorize legal action against restaurant Eddie’s Calzones for unpaid sales taxes from October 2016 to January 2018. A proposal to take legal action against sandwich restaurant Jimmy Johns, also for delinquent sales taxes, was on the agenda for the meeting, as well. However, the restaurant paid its taxes Tuesday and was removed from the agenda at the start of the meeting.
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