11/26/1973 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

present owner. He also mentioned the problems anticipated because of potential fire hazard, police problems, overcrowded schools, and said his recollection was that.there was to be no multiple-family development south of 18th. He added that . residents in the area bought property there thinking it would develop in the same manner as the surrounding single-family use, and asked that single-family develop- ment continue in that area. Speaking in favor of the proposed project and against the appeal were: Mike Safley, M&M Development, Route 5, Box 1421 Jim Redden, architect and project co-ordinator, 700 Country Club Road Dr. Henry Norton, 2665 Highland Oaks Drive Mr. Safley, developer of the project, said no zone change was under consideration. The proposed project conformed to the 1990 Plan. Public notice had been posted and he had personally contacted people in the neighborhood to make them aware of the proposal. He called attention to the two access points planned for the number of buildings proposed which under standard subdivision would take six or seven curb cuts. He also mentioned the proposed sidewalk along the length of the prop- erty to accommodate pedestrian traffic. He felt that rather than creating problems the proposed project would help. He said that the development conforms to stated City goals, providing all types of housing and price ranges: Mr. Redden also commented on attempts to contact people in the neighborhood to . make them aware of the proposed development. He recognized the existing traffic problem but felt ~ven single-family development would create the same types of problems. He offered co-operation in remedying the problems by developing that portion of ground under their control,;"' Mr. Redden felt density was a moot point since the proposal called for less than what is considered low-density in the 1990 Plan. He described planned fire protection system for the project and noted that the cul-de-sac areas would serve emergency vehicles. He said the police protection or increase in crime rate was a question for the Council, not the design profes- sion, and that any lack of re~reational facilities was a problem to be faced by all. Mr. Redden added that the project will not have subsidized housing so will definitely not be a low-income area. He felt the proposal was for a legitimate cluster-type housing project within the guidelines of the General Plan. Mr. Norton, former owner of the pr()perty being developed, commented on annexation of the area., original street system, etc.. He felt development was inevitable and that the proposed project was appropriate. Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony. Manager said an increase in crime incidence is being experienced throughout the City in varying degrees. but there are no statistics to indicate that cluster-type e housing versus single-family development has anything to do with that increase. He added that crime does increase as the population increases and police forces are spread more thinly. Mr. Saul read from the City Code criteria with respect to the traffic situation and I said it was the finding of the Commission that traffic generated by the development could be accommodated by Hawkins Heights Boulevard. To this, end developer was re- quired to dedicate sufficie~t land along the entire length of the property to permit a 60-foot right-of-way to include a public sidewalk. He said the only area included in the petition for improvement of Highland Oaks Drive is that abut- ting the property being developed. Mr. Saul explained Commission consideration of fire protection and called attention to the submission of fire protection ,evaluation and protection methods as a condition of preliminary approval. With regard to over- crowding of schools, he said that although one attendance area may be overcrowded, the overall system has space and the School District in meeting such situations is shifting attendance to schools below capacity. The project, he said, comes within the density guidelines of the 1990 Plan and will provide a higher residential density near 'a'metropolitan area using a large pavcel of land specifically required for that type of housing. And it will provide a variety of housing for all income age groups. . Mayor Anderson asked about the improvement petition for Highland Oaks Drive - the time element inasmuch as it would still have to be circulated in the neighborhood. Manager replied that the developer was required to file a petition for improvement of only that portion of the street abutting his property; owners of property abut- ting the other side have not signed the petition. Neither has the improvement of Hawkins Heights Boulevard to 18th been petitioned, nor the right-of-way north of the project. He ,noted that the Council does have the authority to initiate im- provement of the streets if in its judgment general traffic in the area justifies improvement. "!a4-S 11/26/73 - 3